Naveen Patnaik Defends VK Pandian Amid BJD Row Over Waqf Bill

As internal dissent in the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) intensified over the party’s shift in position on the Waqf Amendment Bill, party president Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday came forward in defence of his close aide VK Pandian.

Patnaik made it clear that Pandian, a former bureaucrat, should not be held accountable as he had left the party over ten months ago and has had no involvement in party affairs since then.

“I want to state quite clearly that Karthikeyan Pandian, in the past, has done a lot of good work not only for the state but for the party. So, he should not be criticised or blamed for anything. Also, he left the party more than 10 months ago and is not involved in any of the party’s work,” Patnaik told the media.

Dissension Within BJD Grows Over Party Stand

Earlier in the day, several BJD leaders convened a meeting at a hotel in the Patia area of Bhubaneswar to discuss the ongoing unrest in the party.

Among those present were former ministers Debi Mishra, Arun Sahoo, Sashi Bhusan Behera, Ashok Panda, Sanjay Das Burma, Bhupinder Singh, and Anshuman Mohanty.

Patnaik expressed disapproval over such gatherings outside the party office. “They have the party office ‘Sankha Bhawan’, which is a large building where they have been told they should hold their meetings and they should do so,” he remarked.

Patnaik Criticises Pravat Tripathy Over Allegations

Strongly reacting to remarks made by former government chief whip Pravat Tripathy, Patnaik refuted accusations against Pandian. Tripathy had claimed that Pandian was responsible for the party’s downfall and its defeat in the 2024 elections.

Patnaik responded firmly, “I want to state here quite clearly that Pravat Tripathy, ex-MLA, was expelled from the BJD some years ago because he was indicted in the chit-fund case and has spent some years in jail.” He further emphasised that Tripathy no longer belongs to the BJD.

Notably, Tripathy’s suspension from the party was revoked by Patnaik on November 11, 2017, when he was an MLA from the Banki constituency.

He had initially been suspended after his arrest by the CBI in October 2014 for alleged involvement in the chit fund scam. His son, Devi Ranjan Tripathy, was later nominated by the party and became an MLA.

Youth Leaders Urge Clarity on Party’s Future Course

Seven youth leaders of the BJD wrote to Naveen Patnaik, urging him to declare the party’s future direction. They expressed concern over the division within the parliamentary wing regarding the vote on the Waqf Amendment Bill.

“This has hurt Biju lovers of the entire state. Action is necessary against those who went against the party policy in this instance,” they said in the letter.

The signatories included Anshuman Mohanty, Devi Ranjan Tripathy, and former MLAs Rudra Pratap Maharathy, Chandra Sarathi Behera, Bishnubrata Routray, and Pranab Balabantray.

They had also gathered at a hotel in Bhubaneswar the previous day to deliberate on the matter.

Waqf Bill Voting Sparks Internal Controversy

The controversy began when the BJD, initially opposed to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, changed its position at the last moment, allowing MPs to vote according to their conscience instead of enforcing a party whip.

This decision reportedly led to at least three BJD MPs voting in favour of the amendments in the Rajya Sabha.

Critics within the party, including senior leaders Pratap Jena and Debasish Samantaray, openly questioned Pandian’s continued influence despite his withdrawal from politics following the BJD’s electoral defeat in 2024.

“The party’s U-turn on the Waqf Bill is a direct result of decisions pushed by Patnaik’s advisor,” Samantaray said, in a veiled reference to Pandian, a sentiment echoed by other disgruntled members.

Naveen Patnaik Reaffirms Party Unity and Pandian’s Disassociation

Amid the backlash, Naveen Patnaik reiterated that Pandian has had no role in party affairs since his departure. “I want to clarify again that he doesn’t belong to the party. I also want to state quite clearly that Kartikeyan Pandian, in the past, has done a lot of good work not only for the state but for the party. So, he shouldn’t be criticised or blamed for anything. Also, he left the party more than 10 months ago and is not involved in any of the party’s work,” he repeated to reporters at his residence, Naveen Niwas.

Reaffirming BJD’s direction under his leadership, Patnaik said, “We are a secular party, and I will ensure that every voice is heard and every concern addressed.”