BJD Turmoil: Leaders Blame Pandians, Oppose Sujata’s Rise While Patnaik Stays Mum

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), long regarded as one of India’s most tightly controlled political parties, is facing unprecedented internal unrest following its abject defeat in the 2024 elections. Senior leaders are now openly airing grievances against the party leadership—something that was once unthinkable in a party where dissent often meant expulsion.

For nearly 24 years, the BJD governed Odisha under the unchallenged authority of party supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Today, that carefully maintained unity appears to be fraying, exposing deep fault lines within the organisation.

Leaders Trade Blame Over Electoral Defeat

At the centre of the blame game is V.K. Pandian, former close aide to Naveen Patnaik, and his wife Sujata Karthikeyan. Veteran leader Badri Narayan Patra has directly held Pandian and his wife responsible for the party’s crushing defeat, accusing them of exercising undue influence in organisational and political decisions.

In contrast, Pravat Biswal has defended the Pandians, arguing that they played a decisive role in the party’s landslide victory in 2019. Going a step further, Biswal claimed that during that period, their influence within the party surpassed even that of Naveen Patnaik himself—a statement that has triggered fresh controversy within BJD circles.

Growing Chorus Against Appointed Leadership

Discontent is not limited to a single faction. Several prominent leaders, including Pranab Prakash Das, Devi Prasad Mishra, Pratap Jena, Sanjay Dasburma and Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, have reportedly demanded the resignation of leaders appointed by Patnaik, holding them responsible for organisational decay and electoral failure.

Adding to the unease, Debashis Samantaray has expressed dissatisfaction over what he describes as “unauthorised meetings” being held without the knowledge or approval of the party supremo, further highlighting the breakdown of command within the party.

Sujata Karthikeyan Rumours Spark New Flashpoint

The latest spark threatening to turn internal discontent into a full-blown crisis is the rumour surrounding Sujata Karthikeyan’s future political role. Badri Patra has strongly criticised her alleged elevation within the party structure, while Pravat Biswal has publicly insisted that she should be nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Interestingly, a section of BJD’s youth leaders has taken to social media to support Karthikeyan, underscoring the generational and ideological divisions now emerging within the party.

Naveen Patnaik’s Silence Fuels Speculation

Amid the escalating turmoil, Naveen Patnaik’s continued silence has become a subject of intense debate. The BJD supremo has neither defended his decisions nor reprimanded dissenting leaders, nor has he directly addressed the allegations flying within the party.

This silence has prompted political observers to ask a critical question: is Patnaik helpless amid the storm engulfing his party, or is his restraint a calculated political strategy aimed at allowing internal contradictions to resolve themselves?

A Party at Crossroads

The BJD, which ruled Odisha uninterruptedly for nearly a quarter of a century, is now facing a severe crisis of unity. Grassroots workers and senior leaders alike appear demoralised, uncertain about the party’s ideological direction and leadership structure in the post-Patnaik era.

As internal disagreements spill into the public domain, the coming months will be crucial in determining whether the BJD can rediscover cohesion—or whether the cracks exposed after the 2024 defeat will deepen into lasting fractures.