Naveen Patnaik elected as BJD president for 9th term, says party couldn’t counter BJP's false narrative in 2024 polls

Former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was re-elected unopposed as the president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for the ninth consecutive term. The founding president of the BJD, a 76-year-old, who served as chief minister for 24 years in Odisha from 2000 onwards till the change of government, last year, reposed his faith in the party workers.

 

“No one should underestimate the organisational strength of the BJD. The spirit of our workers remains very high. They are our real assets,” Patnaik said. 

 

The BJD has a strong organisational presence in Odisha as it remained unchallenged for over two decades and has been credited with turning around the state. However, its ouster from power, now, poses a challenge to the party regaining its glory even as the assembly polls are still over four years away.

 

Patnaik was picked as party president at its office – Sankha Bhawan – in the state capital, Bhubneshwar. After re-election, Patnaik described the years 2000 to 2024, when the BJD was in power, as a “golden age” in Odisha’s development. He reaffirmed the party’s commitment to continue working for the welfare of the people, regardless of whether they are in government or not.

 

Patnaik’s entry into politics

 

Known for his spartan lifestyle, Patnaik has been an enigmatic figure in Indian politics. He thrived in the state as its tallest leader, despite not being an orator. His speeches were short, but not have the trust which people reposed in him.

 

He had made a late entry into politics. Until 50, he had led a non-conformist lifestyle. He ran a boutique, Psychedelhi, from Delhi’s Oberoi Hotel, and hobnobbed with the rich and the mighty. Things changed after his father, former Odisha CM Biju Patnaik, died in 1997. On the insistence of Prime Minister I.K. Gujral, he agreed to contest from his father’s seat, Aska.

 

Even after ruling the state for decades, his party faces many challenges. For the most part, since the BJD’s inception in 1997, it has been in power. It has never really played the part of an opposition party. Its policy of friendly equi-distance from the ruling party at the Centre, be it UPA or the NDA, never saw the party take the role of an aggressive political entity.

 

It now has to reframe its role as an opposition party to stay in contention and not cede the space to Congress which has become aggressive in the recent months. 

 

The BJD’s ambivalence towards the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, as some of the party MPs, supported the contentious Waqf Bill created confusion among the party leaders.

 

After getting elected for the ninth time, Patnaik attacked the ruling BJP in state, saying it was voted to power as it created a “false narrative” which the BJD could not counter.

 

He said the party workers should increase their presence online to be able to communicate with people.

 

Patnaik, who is also the leader of the opposition in the Odisha Assembly, said BJD should focus on the empowerment of women, farmers, youth, workers, and tribals as its key mantra.

 

Another challenge before the party is picking up Patnaik’s successor who could take forward the party’s work in the coming years. All eyes will be on the person, to whom Patnaik entrusts the work or groom as next line of leadership in the party.

India