Operation Lotus in Cuttack: BJP Plots to Reclaim 1995 Stronghold After Rajya Sabha Cross-Voting Seismic Shift

The political landscape of Odisha is witnessing a massive upheaval following the Rajya Sabha election results, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reportedly launching ‘Operation Lotus’ to capture the strategic Cuttack district. In a calculated move to dismantle the traditional fortresses of the BJD and Congress, the BJP appears to have successfully drawn three influential young legislators into its orbit, signaling a high-stakes battle for the 2029 General Elections.

The seeds of this transformation were sown during the recent Rajya Sabha polling. In a stunning display of cross-voting, Debi Ranjan Tripathy (BJD, Banki), Souvic Biswal (BJD, Cuttack-Choudwar), and Sofia Firdous (Congress, Barabati-Cuttack) cast their votes in favor of BJP-backed candidate Dilip Ray.

Political analysts view this not merely as a single act of defiance, but as the beginning of a long-term strategy to turn Cuttack “saffron.” Currently, out of the nine assembly seats in the district, the BJP holds only four (including two supported MLAs). However, the party’s ultimate goal is total dominance over the district.

Insiders suggest a well-defined roadmap is already in place for the next elections:

Souvic Biswal: It is rumored that Souvic will officially emerge as the BJP candidate for the Cuttack-Choudwar seat in 2029.

Sofia Firdous: There are speculations that Sofia may contest from a new political outfit led by her father, Mohammed Moquim. This party is expected to function as a “B-Team” for the BJP, aimed at splitting the traditional Congress vote bank.

The Tripathy Factor: Banki MLA Debi Ranjan Tripathy, along with his father and veteran leader Prabhat Tripathy, is likely to join the BJP fold well before 2029 to consolidate the rural Cuttack belt.

While the BJP remains tight-lipped about the formal execution of ‘Operation Lotus,’ former MLA Mohammed Moquim has openly justified the cross-voting. He stated that when those in power “murder the political interests” of individual leaders, such a “punishment” (cross-voting) is inevitable. His stance further fuels rumors of his departure from the Congress ideology.

From 1995 to 2009, Cuttack city was a BJP bastion, largely due to the influence of the late Sameer Dey, who served as a powerful minister in the BJD-BJP coalition. However, after the alliance broke in 2009, the BJP lost its grip on the silver city.

By weaponizing the influence of heavyweights like Prabhat Biswal and Mohammed Moquim, the BJP aims to end its 20-year drought in the region. The recent cross-voting by their children, Souvic and Sofia, is seen as a “trailer” of the political movie set to release in 2029.

With Prabhat Biswal virtually saying “goodbye” to the BJD and Mohammed Moquim turning his back on the Congress, the BJP is successfully bringing three of Cuttack’s most powerful political families under its umbrella. This consolidation marks a significant shift in Odisha politics, as the BJP prepares to build a new “Gedua” (Saffron) fort on the foundations of old rivalries.