BJD MP demands action against party RS leader Sasmit Patra

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal led by former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appears to be heading for a split with party’s Rajya Sabha MP Muzibulla Khan has demanding action against the its leader in the Upper House of Parliament Sasmit Patra, for allegedly changing the regional outfit’s official decision to vote against the Waqf Bill.
Khan met BJD president Naveen Patnaik here and accused Patra of maintaining “double standards” amidst reports that a section in the party is seriously contemplating to dissociate from the party and look for other options.
If sources in the party are to be believed nearly 20 to 25 MLAs of the 51 in the State Assembly may any day announce their drastic step as all doesn’t seem well within the opposition BJD.

Several senior leaders of the regional outfit have been voicing their objections following the party’s alleged change of stand over the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 which was passed in Parliament recently and blaming the influence of Naveen’s closest aide VK Pandian for the fiasco.

According to the sources, former Organisation Secretary of the Party Pranab Prakash Das alias ‘Bobby’ is ‘fed up’ with the interference of Pandian in the party’s day to day affairs.Munna Khan has said that those who voted in support of the Waqf Bill should join the BJP.
Khan, along with his supporters, have met BJD president and apprised him on the developments.Khan’s grudge is that he was not taken into confidence before Patra announced the change in the BJD’s decision.

The BJD has seven Rajya Sabha MPs.
Khan, however, said that Patnaik has assured that things will be resolved shortly.Khan also said that he tried to meet and discuss with Patra regarding the change of the decision but could not meet him.He said Patra also did not pick up his phone call.Khan said Patnaik had allowed him to lead a rally in Bhubaneswar against the Waqf Bill and in an Iftar party had also asked him to oppose the Bill. But Patra’s social media message told MPs to vote as per conscience, he said.

Khan further said that Patra voted in support of the Waqf Bill and also revealed his voting to media which was unfortunate and hurt all in the party.
Khan said this kind of behaviour of Patra, especially on sensitive issues like the Waqf Bill, sends a wrong message.
This led to misunderstanding for which some BJD MPs voted in support of the Waqf Bill while some others opposed it. One MP Deabashis Samantray preferred to abstain from voting due to the confusion.A former minister Bhupinder Singh has described the prevailing situation in the BJD akin to ‘Kalabaishakhi’ (Nor’wester) while party’s deputy leader in the Assembly and former MP Prasanna Acharya suspected the hand of some “external force” behind the party’s alleged decision not to oppose the Waqf Bill.

However, Acharya defended the party’s stand, saying there might have been a change in the decision regarding the Bill, but the BJD continues to uphold its secular credentials.He further explained, “Ours is a secular party, maintaining equal distance from both the NDA and the UPA. As a regional party, BJD supports or opposes any issue based on the interests of Odisha.”Bhupinder Singh, also a former Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, acknowledged the discontent within the party over the Waqf Bill issue.
Meanwhile, veteran Congress leader and former Leader of Opposition, Narasingha Mishra, alleged that someone else is making decisions for the BJD while Patnaik is effectively in “house arrest.”
Mishra claimed, “He is being controlled from behind the scenes by his chief advisor. This is not the first time he has been put in such a position.”

He also alleged a possible “deal” between the BJP and the BJD, suggesting it could explain the party’s shift in stance on the Waqf Bill.Adding to the controversy, BJP MP Balabhadra Majhi predicted the eventual collapse of the BJD, saying, “The party has no ideology or guiding principles and is being driven by inexperienced leadership. It will soon vanish from the state’s political landscape.”