The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Odisha): The political battle in Odisha is intensifying, with the BJP and Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) fiercely competing against each other. The BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is aiming to secure a majority of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha and establish its own government in the state for the first time. Modi, who had previously referred to Patnaik as a friend, has now shifted to a combative stance, declaring the end of their alliance and launching a direct attack on the BJD.
During his rally in Berhampur on May 6, Modi criticized Patnaik, predicting the downfall of the BJD government by June 4, the day the election results will be announced. Modi urged voters to give the BJP a chance to transform Odisha into the top state in the country, taking a jab at Patnaik’s limited proficiency in the Odia language and his government’s inability to harness the state’s resources for development. He invited the public to attend the BJP chief minister’s swearing-in ceremony on June 10.
In an unusual move, Patnaik responded swiftly to Modi’s remarks, dismissing the BJP’s ambitions as mere daydreaming. In a video with his chief poll strategist, V.K. Pandian, Patnaik expressed confidence in his party’s success. Pandian, who recently transitioned from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) to politics, assured that Patnaik would be sworn in as chief minister for the sixth consecutive term on June 9.
This clear confrontation indicates a no-holds-barred battle between the BJD and BJP. The BJP, which increased its Lok Sabha seats from one in 2014 to eight in 2019, is optimistic about further gains. The party’s strategists believe that the undercurrent of support for Modi, especially in western Odisha, will benefit them across the state. They anticipate that the BJP’s Lok Sabha tally could rise to 15, with a significant increase in Assembly seats.
Despite the BJP’s confidence, recent panchayat election results tell a different story. The BJP’s performance declined sharply, winning only 42 out of 852 zila parishad seats, compared to 297 seats in 2017. Conversely, the BJD won a record 766 zila parishad seats in the 2022 rural polls, reflecting its efforts to reclaim lost ground.
BJP strategists argue that general elections are distinct from panchayat polls and are determined to intensify their campaign against Patnaik. Modi’s criticism of Patnaik’s governance and his focus on ‘Odia pride’ illustrate this strategy. Additionally, the BJP is targeting Patnaik’s strong support among women, who have consistently backed the BJD.
In a significant move, the BJP influenced the transfer of senior IAS officer Sujata R. Karthikeyan from the Mission Shakti department, which supports over six lakh women self-help groups (SHGs). Karthikeyan, the wife of V.K. Pandian, was accused by the BJP of being a BJD agent influencing women voters. The Election Commission acted on these allegations, reassigning her to a non-public facing role.
Mission Shakti, initially part of the department of women and child development, became an independent government department in 2021, aiming to empower women through income-generating SHGs. These groups, supported by various government departments and bank loans, have a significant presence across Odisha’s rural areas. Their political importance is underscored by Patnaik’s decision to field SHG leader Pramila Bisoi as a candidate in the 2019 elections.
Pranab Prakash Das, the BJD’s organisational secretary and Sambalpur Lok Sabha candidate, accused the BJP of attempting to dismantle the Mission Shakti program, which integrates women SHGs into numerous government projects. The BJD views this as a strategy by the BJP to weaken the women’s empowerment movement, while the BJP insists that the SHGs are being manipulated to support the ruling party.