Patnaik’s Defection Rocks BJD Ahead of Nuapada Bypoll – More to Follow?

Ex-Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik Switches Sides

In a major political development ahead of the Nuapada Assembly bypoll, former Rajya Sabha MP and ex-BJD IT cell head Amar Patnaik has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His entry marks the saffron party’s third high-profile induction from Odisha within weeks, further intensifying the political churn in the state’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Patnaik, a former Principal Accountant General, joined the BJP on November 3 at the party’s state headquarters in Bhubaneswar. The joining ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, BJP state president Manmohan Samal, and party in-charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar.

From Bureaucrat to Politician

After retiring from the civil service, Amar Patnaik entered politics in 2018 and quickly rose through the ranks of the Biju Janata Dal. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2023 for a term until 2024 and was regarded as one of BJD’s most articulate voices on economic policy, governance, and technology-driven reforms.

Announcing his decision to join the BJP, Patnaik said, “After serving Odisha, I also want to contribute to the development of the nation at large on a national platform. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision has deeply inspired me.”

A Pattern of Defections

Patnaik’s defection continues a growing pattern that has seen several BJD leaders switching allegiance to the BJP in recent months. Similar moves were earlier made by Mamata Mohanta and Sujit Kumar, both of whom resigned from the BJD and joined the BJP soon after.

Mohanta left the BJD in June 2024, while Sujit Kumar — then a sitting Rajya Sabha MP with 18 months left in his term — crossed over to the BJP and was subsequently re-nominated and re-elected by the saffron party in the ensuing bypoll.

This succession of high-profile defections appears to be part of the BJP’s strategy to consolidate its base in Odisha following its 2024 Assembly victory, signalling a calculated move to absorb prominent regional faces and further weaken the BJD’s organizational depth.

Shockwaves in the BJD Camp

Amar Patnaik’s exit has reportedly sent shockwaves through the BJD, particularly because of his reputation as one of the party’s key strategists and modern communicators. His departure is being viewed as a significant blow to Naveen Patnaik’s leadership, which has already been under scrutiny after a series of setbacks in recent months.

During his campaign trail in Nuapada on the very day of Amar Patnaik’s defection, Naveen Patnaik took a direct swipe at the BJP, accusing it of “stealing votes” and “engineering defections for political gain.”

Political observers say Amar Patnaik’s exit could widen internal rifts within the BJD, particularly among its old guard and technocratic wing, who are now being closely watched for their next move.

Nuapada Bypoll: A Test of Strength

The timing of the defection — just days before the November 11 Nuapada bypoll — has added fresh intrigue to an already charged contest. Analysts believe that the by-election outcome could serve as a barometer for the BJP’s growing influence in western Odisha and the BJD’s ability to retain its stronghold.

With the BJP aggressively wooing high-profile defectors and projecting itself as the “new face of Odisha’s political future,” Amar Patnaik’s induction could give the saffron party a symbolic edge heading into the bypolls.

Looking Ahead

As Odisha’s political landscape continues to shift, Amar Patnaik’s crossover underscores a deeper realignment in state politics. With several prominent BJD figures reportedly in talks with the BJP, the saffron surge in Odisha shows no signs of slowing down.

Whether this momentum translates into lasting political gains will become clearer after Nuapada’s verdict on November 11, a bypoll that may very well set the tone for the next phase of Odisha’s power politics.