Rift in BJD Over Sudden Shift on Waqf Amendment Bill; Senior Leaders Seek Clarification from Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar, April 7 : A political storm is brewing within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) following the party’s unexpected change in stance on the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha, triggering a revolt among senior party leaders and growing dissent at the grassroots level.

At the center of the controversy is BJD Rajya Sabha MP Munna Khan, the lone Muslim representative from the party in the Upper House, who—along with his supporters—met party supremo Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Niwas to express his strong displeasure over the party’s apparent U-turn on the contentious Bill.

Initially, the BJD had announced its opposition to the Waqf Amendment Bill, a stance reaffirmed during a Parliamentary Board meeting chaired by Patnaik himself. However, in a surprising last-minute shift, BJD’s Rajya Sabha Leader Dr. Sasmit Patra announced that MPs were free to vote “according to their conscience.” The outcome saw a split: one BJD MP abstained, three voted in favor, and three opposed the Bill.

This abrupt policy shift sparked serious backlash, with senior party leaders demanding a public explanation. Munna Khan’s supporters went so far as to chant slogans such as “Pandian Go Back” and “Pandian Leave Odisha”, blaming former bureaucrat and close Patnaik aide V.K. Pandian for influencing the decision.

Although Pandian had distanced himself from the party’s political affairs after the BJD’s defeat in the 2024 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, his name being dragged into the controversy has prompted concern within the party. In response, four BJD Rajya Sabha MPs have issued statements defending Pandian, calling the protests at Naveen Niwas “unwarranted and damaging.”

Amid the turmoil, Naveen Patnaik has sought to reassure the minority community, stating, “The BJD has always stood by minorities and will continue to do so. Biju Babu supported them, and so do I.” He reiterated the party’s secular ideology and commitment to minority welfare.

However, several senior leaders, including former Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadei and BJD Deputy Leader in the Assembly Prasanna Acharya, have demanded a clear explanation from Patnaik. They also called for action against Dr. Patra, particularly in light of his public endorsement of the Bill on his official social media.

Political observers believe the party must urgently address the internal discord, especially with questions lingering over who authorized the deviation from the party’s publicly stated position. As the BJD navigates a post-election period of reflection and restructuring, this episode could have lasting implications for the party’s unity and public perception.