Not BJP or VK Pandian, Naveen Patnaik responsible for BJD’s defeat: Tathagata Satpathy

On the first day of 2025, former MP and senior journalist Tathagata Satpathy dropped a bomb on the political sphere in Odisha by targetting BJD president Naveen Patnaik and praising the newly formed BJP government in an editorial piece.

The editorial piece has sparked considerable discussion in the political spectrum in Odisha as Tathagata Satpathy has openly blamed Odisha's former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) electoral defeat. Naveen Patnaik thought anybody could win elections if given BJD tickets and took the people of the state for granted.

“It is not BJP or VK Pandian, Naveen Patnaik is responsible for BJD’s defeat in 2024 elections. Just as Naveen Patnaik was lauded for steering the BJD to victory in five elections, he must also take responsibility for the recent electoral defeat,” Satpathy said.

Tathagata Satpathy Criticises Political Moves

Tathagata Satpathy has expressed scepticism regarding political activities currently unfolding in Odisha, particularly those involving veteran politician Naveen Patnaik. Speaking exclusively, Satpathy questioned the impact of Patnaik's travel around the state and what political message he intends to relay.

Satpathy stated, “What impact will it have if Naveen travels around? What political message is he conveying? Nobody should underestimate the wisdom of the Odia people, highlighting their potential understanding of underlying political motives.”

Satpathy further asserted that usually IAS officers return to their hometowns after retirement. But Naveen Patnaik mocked the people of Odisha by passing on the baton to Pandian and thought that the state to be his own property.

In the editorial, Satpathy also lauded the contributions of prominent leaders like Pyarimohan Mohapatra who had played a crucial role in laying the foundation for the BJD for which the party won the 2009 elections after ties with BJP were snapped.

It was only due to several leaders like Pyarimohan Mohapatra that BJD survived in Odisha for 24 years. However, Naveen Patnaik sidelined the leaders who founded the party and teamed with some people with vested interests. The madness in BJD started to come to the fore from 2019 onwards, wrote Satpathy.

In his editorial, Satpathy also lauded the works of the newly formed BJP government led by CM Mohan Majhi and the various pro-people initiatives.

When contacted, Satpathy said, “Are Odia people so fool that they could not see what was happening? The people of the state are smart and nobody should underestimate them.”

Senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, “It is wrong to think every BJD leader supports Naveen Patnaik’s decisions. Nobody can take anyone for granted. Many are not able to digest the way Naveen Patnaik cited that the party tasted defeat as it could not counter false narratives.”

Mohanty further said that everybody knows what happened to senior leader Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, several media houses and journalists under the previous BJD government’s tenure.

“It could be a clear indication that Tathagat Satpathy and other BJD leaders might join the BJP. Whatever Satpathy has said is correct but it should have come much earlier. BJD needs to introspect as well on its current situation in the state. Till now Naveen Patnaik has not learnt from his mistake and is depending on those who were responsible for the debacle,” Mohanty added.

No comments could be obtained from BJD leaders over Satpathy's editorial.