Suspended BJD leader Shreemayee Mishra once again ‘targets’ Naveen Patnaik and VK Pandian

Suspended Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Shreemayee Mishra let out a social media post drawing sharp parallels to her erstwhile party’s supremo, Naveen Patnaik, and his aide V K Pandian, drawing major buzz in Odisha’s political circles.

Mishra, on Saturday, wrote a post titled ‘The Story of Anam Babu’, which described how a married daughter, after her wedding, refused to return to her father’s house and instead remained in her husband’s home, gradually asserting control over her father-in-law’s property and decisions.

According to the post, Anam Babu, portrayed as a highly educated and respected individual in the village, quietly transferred his responsibilities to his son-in-law and went on a pilgrimage. The post highlighted how the son-in-law’s presence in Anam Babu’s house gradually eroded the patriarch’s respect and social standing, leaving villagers dismayed.

While Mishra stated that her post was entirely fictional, political observers have noted the near-direct references to Naveen Patnaik and Pandian. Several leaders, including those within the BJD, have long accused Pandian of taking over the party’s reins from Patnaik.

Political Undertones Fuel Speculation

This post comes amid Mishra’s growing political visibility following her suspension from the Biju Janata Dal on 23rd September for alleged anti-party activities. Political circles note that Mishra has been exploring new alliances, with speculation linking her to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

During recent Durga Puja visits in Bhubaneswar, Mishra was seen interacting with senior BJP leaders, including Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik, MLA Upasana Mohapatra, and party strategist Jagannath Pradhan. Photos from these visits have gone viral, sparking buzz of a possible new alignment.

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BJD Stays Mum Again

So far, no BJD leader, including Naveen Patnaik, has reacted to Shreemayee Mishra’s latest post or even the earlier posts, which too took indirect digs at the party and its leaders.

Senior journalist and political observer Prasanna Mohanty noted that the silence was indicative of growing discord within the BJD.

“Several senior BJD leaders align with Shreemayee’s views because of recent developments within the party that have seen Pandian assert control, like the incident of party veterans being subjected to Pandian’s rules when Naveen Patnaik was admitted to the hospital,” claimed Mohanty.

He further said, “While veterans are at loggerheads, some young BJD leaders who want to speak against Mishra are waiting for instructions from their disgruntled seniors. There is complete discord within the party.”