BJD suffering from ‘multi-organ failure’; needs ‘saline support’: BJP’s Jayanarayan Mishra sparks debate

Odisha politics heated up following a controversial statement on Monday by senior BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra, who said the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has weakened and may need ‘saline support’ to survive.

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The senior BJP leader remarked that the party does not want the BJD to sink completely and would even administer ‘saline’ if required, triggering intense political debate in the State.

Adding fuel to the controversy, BJP MP Balabhadra Majhi said the BJD is suffering from ‘multi-organ failure’ and that even saline would no longer help the party survive. His statement further sharpened the political exchange between the two parties.

Responding strongly, the BJD said time will decide who actually needs ‘saline’ and whose political health is failing. The party also cautioned the BJP against becoming overconfident after the recent Nuapada by-election results.

The remarks have raised questions about why BJP leaders are using medical metaphors to describe BJD’s condition. After the 2024 electoral setback, the BJD has been facing internal unrest, with leaders from the panchayat level to MPs quitting the party. Senior and young leaders alike have been openly questioning the party leadership.

In an attempt to send a strong message against indiscipline, party president Naveen Patnaik earlier suspended the Champua and Patkura MLAs. However, the move is believed to have backfired, as factionalism and public showdowns have continued, leading to speculation about a ‘possible split’.

Political analysts believe BJP may not want the BJD to collapse entirely, as such a scenario could revive the Congress and give it political mileage—something that may not suit the BJP’s long-term strategy in Odisha.

The key question now is how BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik will manage the internal dissent and reorganise the party in the days ahead.

“It is a fact that BJP would never wish BJD to come to such a situation when saline support will be needed by the party. If the BJD comes to such a feeble condition, very likely, benefit of the BJD’s adverse condition could go to Congress. BJP may not want Congress to grow in Odisha,” noted political analyst Sandip Mishra said to OTV.

Reported By: Jagdish Das, Arun Kumar Sahu