Odisha Elections 2024: Will disgruntled leaders play spoiler to BJD's chances?

Following the cancellation of some senior leaders' tickets, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) seems to be having a tough time managing the situation. 

BJD has denied tickets to many senior and heavyweight leaders like Samir Ranjan Dash, Amar Satpathy, Bhupinder Singh, Shashi Bhusan Behera. Though these stalwarts have not left the party as yet, their aggressive acts and mysterious silence over the matter have complicated things for the ruling party in their respective constituencies.

Matter complicated for BJD

As per reports, Nimapara MLA Samir Ranjan Dash had conducted a meeting of the party workers on Saturday. In the meeting,  block Chairmans, their deputies, Sarpanchs and Samiti members of many Gram Panchayats along with others tendered their mass resignations from the party demanding a change of BJD candidate from the constituency.

As per many political experts, if BJD doesn't give a ticket to either Dash or his wife from the seat, party's performances in Nimapara, Puri district and Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seats could be severely affected.

"People of Nimapara should have been asked before selecting a candidate from the seat. Now the agenda has been fixed and I appeal to one and all not to vote for the new BJD candidate. I am sure that the party and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will take it seriously," said Dash.

Similarly, Ollywood actress Varsha Priyadarshini has been fielded from Barchana assembly segment instead of party stalwart Amar Satpathy.

In response, disgruntled Satpathy did not take part in a party 'Mishran Parva' held in the constituency some days back. Political experts are apprehensive that the voters of the constituency may not vote for Varsha as many consider her as an 'outsider'.

Meanwhile, a large chunk of voters are also dissatisfied after Narla MLA Bhupinder Singh and Kendrapara MLA Shashi Bhusan Behera were denied tickets.

"I don't think it's my ideology to jump to another party after being denied ticket during the time of election. In a popular party, there are many aspirants for tickets and it's not possible to satisfy all," said Behera.

Moreover, another ticket aspirant Anubhav Patnaik, who was the former MLA of Khandapada, is in an aggressive mood after he was ignored by the ruling party. After tendering his resignation from the party, he has filed his nomination from the seat as an independent candidate.

Another ticket aspirant from the constituency- Gayadhar Parida has also left BJD. As per sources, current MLA of Khandapada-Soumya Ranjan Patnaik is leading the disgruntled leaders against BJD in the constituency.

"I met Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and former Charman of Bhapur block-Gayadhar Parida on Saturday to help me in the upcoming election. I am hopeful that with their help, I will emerge winner," said Anubhav Patnaik.

Hindol MLA Simarani Nayak, Soro MLA Parshuram Dhada, Athamallik MLA Ramesh Sai have switched their allegiance to BJP after being ignored for tickets by BJD. However, Anandpur MLA Bhagirathi Sethy has not changed the party despite being denied of ticket. Similarly, BJD leaders like Ananta Das and Nityananda Sahoo are still in the party though they have not been given tickets.

Major challenges 

As per political experts, the disgruntled and dissident senior and experienced leaders may pose major challenges in disrupting BJD's game plan in the upcoming elections.

"Tickets have been denied to many senior leaders against their expectations. Time will tell whether their dissatisfactions will reflect on the election results or not," said senior leader Prasanna Mohanty.