BJD Withdraws Support to BJP in Rajya Sabha: A Shift in Political Strategy

 BJD Withdraws Support to BJP in Rajya Sabha: A Shift in Political Strategy

BJD president and former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik

BJD to Emerge as Strong Opposition

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik has directed his party's nine Rajya Sabha MPs to become a "vibrant and strong" opposition during the upcoming session of Parliament, beginning June 27. This strategic shift was decided during a meeting held on Monday, where Patnaik emphasised the importance of raising issues pertinent to Odisha.

Key Issues to be Raised

The BJD has outlined several critical issues it plans to address in the Rajya Sabha:

• Special Status for Odisha: One of the primary demands of the BJD is to secure special status for the state.
• Coal Royalty Revision: The party seeks a revision of coal royalty, which has significant implications for Odisha's revenue.
• Mobile Connectivity and Bank Density: The BJD will highlight the problems of poor mobile connectivity and the low density of bank branches in the state, urging the central government to take action.

Determined to Agitate

Sasmit Patra, the BJD leader in Rajya Sabha, conveyed the party's readiness to go beyond merely voicing concerns. He indicated that the MPs are prepared to agitate if the BJP-led central government continues to overlook Odisha's interests. "No more support to BJP, only opposition. We may go to any extent to protect the interests of Odisha," Patra stated emphatically.

End of Issue-Based Support

The BJD's stance marks a departure from its previous approach of providing issue-based support to the BJP. Over the past years, the BJD has backed the BJP on various issues in Parliament and played a crucial role in helping Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw secure a Rajya Sabha seat in 2019 and 2024. However, Patra has now declared that the party will act as a firm opposition, driven by the need to protect Odisha's rights and interests.

Political Context

This decision comes in the wake of significant political changes for the BJD. The party failed to win any seats in the recently held Lok Sabha elections for the first time since its inception in 1997. Additionally, the BJP has ended the BJD's 24-year reign in the state by securing a majority in the Odisha assembly. Patnaik, addressing senior BJD leaders on Sunday, underscored the importance of unity and hard work to strengthen the party in response to these challenges.

The BJD's strategic shift signals a more confrontational approach in the Rajya Sabha, with the party determined to advocate robustly for Odisha's interests in the national arena.