BJD faces open revolt after Nuapada bypoll defeat; Corporator raises questions over Snehangini Chhuria’s candidature

Internal unrest has intensified within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) following the party’s defeat in the Nuapada Assembly bypoll, with Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporator Ajit Behera launching a direct attack on the party’s top decision-making process.

In an interaction with the press on Sunday, Behera alleged that the choice of a candidate for the bypoll was imposed without collective consultation and said that such unilateral decisions were pushing the BJD towards collapse.

His remarks come amid renewed speculation surrounding VK Pandian’s continuing influence in party affairs, months after he publicly announced his exit from active politics.

Behera Calls Process A One-Man Decision

Behera alleged that Snehangini Chhuria’s candidature was the outcome of an internal conspiracy and did not reflect the opinion of local leaders involved in the Nuapada campaign.

He questioned why senior ground-level leaders, who had been mobilising workers in Nuapada for months, accepted a decision that he described as “inexplicable and imposed.”

Behera further alleged that VK Pandian continued to play a decisive role in the party despite his earlier public withdrawal. He concluded that if the party continued functioning in this manner, “the future will turn dark,” warning that rising dissatisfaction among workers would weaken organisational cohesion.

“Any party would head towards its collapse when the number of Vibhishans and betrayers increases within it,” said Behera.

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Corporator Cites Allegations By Shreemayee Mishra

The corporator repeated suspicions raised earlier by suspended BJD leader Shreemayee Mishra, who had alleged that political deals were being struck outside Odisha. 

“It looks like there was a deal to help the BJP win,” Behera said, citing Mishra’s earlier remarks that “workers are left clueless while deals are struck in Delhi.”

Referring to the selection of Snehangini Chhuria, Behera asked why the party had fielded a candidate from nearly 150 kilometres away instead of a local figure with organisational roots in the constituency. “A candidate should know the soil of the region. What logic did the party follow in picking someone from so far away?” he said.

Behera linked these developments to former Rajya Sabha MP Amar Patnaik’s defection and growing allegations of internal betrayal. “Any party heads towards collapse when the number of Vibhishans increases. Who was responsible for Nuapada? Who decided this course of action?” he said.

Notably, in October, suspended BJD leader Shreemayee Mishra had reignited political controversy with a social media post implying that major decisions in the party were influenced by external negotiations. Her Odia-language post stated that “workers are left clueless while deals are struck in Delhi,” which many interpreted as a continuing criticism of VK Pandian.

ALSO READ: Naveen Patnaik’s popularity fading, failing miserably in delivering results? BJD in turmoil after Nuapada blow

Mishra also wrote that “a monk in politics can be more dangerous than an opponent,” a remark widely viewed as a veiled reference to Pandian and his once-commanding influence in the party’s internal affairs.

Her comments resurfaced after speculation that Jay Dholakia, son of late four-time BJD MLA Rajendra Dholakia, might join the BJP before the Nuapada bypoll, an outcome that eventually materialised as the BJP strengthened its position in the region.

As of the last reports, the BJD has not issued an official response to Behera’s statements.