Odisha Politics / Internal Criticism Erupts in BJD as Senior Leader Points to Organizational Lapses in Nuapada
·4 months ago·3 min read
Key Points
- BJD leader Bhupinder Singh blames Nuapada bypoll defeat on delayed candidate announcement and weak campaign planning.
- Singh says he was sidelined despite strong local standing, and party workers were underutilised.
- Singh claims perception grew that BJD wanted BJP to win; urges the party to take responsibility.
Bhubaneswar, Nov 20: Following a disappointing performance in the 2024 Assembly and General elections, and a particularly poor showing in the Nuapada bypoll, the Biju Janata Dal has been facing increasingly vocal dissent from within.
After leaders such as Shreemayee Mishra and Elina Dash publicly questioned the party’s functioning, senior leader Bhupinder Singh has now joined the chorus, sharply criticising BJD’s strategy in the Nuapada by-election and calling the defeat a result of wrong candidate choices, delayed decisions and organizational lapses.
Singh told reporters that despite his strong standing in Nuapada, he was sidelined during the campaign. “Even though I had a good reputation in Nuapada, I was not given any responsibility,” he said, adding that the leadership failed to utilise the strengths of local party workers while preparing for the poll.
The former MLA from Narla said the party erred in not announcing Jay Dholakia’s candidature early, which created uncertainty within the family. “Congress declared Ghasiaram Majhi’s name much earlier. We should have announced our candidate in time. Because of the delay, the family did not believe BJD would give the ticket, and he went to the BJP,” Singh said. He added that the sympathy following the death of the late Rajendra Dholakia moved entirely towards the BJP.
According to Singh, BJD received as few as three to eleven votes in several booths, and those who were responsible for campaigning must answer for the performance. He also claimed that during the campaign, a perception spread that BJD itself wanted the BJP to win. “I do not know how such a rumour started,” he said.
Singh also said that bringing party president Naveen Patnaik into the campaign at the final stage could not turn the tide. “Even Naveen Babu’s massive rally did not help. It was not necessary to involve him in this situation,” he remarked.
Also Read: Nuapada Defeat Sparks Rebellion in BJD as Elina Dash Targets Leadership
He also commented on the candidate choice in Kalahandi for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, saying senior leader Lambodar Nial had never wanted to contest for Parliament and preferred the Assembly route. Singh said that from the day Nial was picked for the Lok Sabha seat, “it was clear we were giving the advantage to the BJP.”
Singh said voters responded more to issues like the Subhadra scheme and farmers’ bonus, but after such a heavy defeat, internal explanations were not enough. “After a loss like this, issuing statements will not work. Accountability should be there,” he said.
It can be mentioned here that Singh had joined the BJD in March 2014, having previously resigned from Congress. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha later that year, after having served as the Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 2009 to 2014.
After leaders such as Shreemayee Mishra and Elina Dash publicly questioned the party’s functioning, senior leader Bhupinder Singh has now joined the chorus, sharply criticising BJD’s strategy in the Nuapada by-election and calling the defeat a result of wrong candidate choices, delayed decisions and organizational lapses.
Singh told reporters that despite his strong standing in Nuapada, he was sidelined during the campaign. “Even though I had a good reputation in Nuapada, I was not given any responsibility,” he said, adding that the leadership failed to utilise the strengths of local party workers while preparing for the poll.
The former MLA from Narla said the party erred in not announcing Jay Dholakia’s candidature early, which created uncertainty within the family. “Congress declared Ghasiaram Majhi’s name much earlier. We should have announced our candidate in time. Because of the delay, the family did not believe BJD would give the ticket, and he went to the BJP,” Singh said. He added that the sympathy following the death of the late Rajendra Dholakia moved entirely towards the BJP.
According to Singh, BJD received as few as three to eleven votes in several booths, and those who were responsible for campaigning must answer for the performance. He also claimed that during the campaign, a perception spread that BJD itself wanted the BJP to win. “I do not know how such a rumour started,” he said.
Singh also said that bringing party president Naveen Patnaik into the campaign at the final stage could not turn the tide. “Even Naveen Babu’s massive rally did not help. It was not necessary to involve him in this situation,” he remarked.
Also Read: Nuapada Defeat Sparks Rebellion in BJD as Elina Dash Targets Leadership
He also commented on the candidate choice in Kalahandi for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, saying senior leader Lambodar Nial had never wanted to contest for Parliament and preferred the Assembly route. Singh said that from the day Nial was picked for the Lok Sabha seat, “it was clear we were giving the advantage to the BJP.”
Singh said voters responded more to issues like the Subhadra scheme and farmers’ bonus, but after such a heavy defeat, internal explanations were not enough. “After a loss like this, issuing statements will not work. Accountability should be there,” he said.
It can be mentioned here that Singh had joined the BJD in March 2014, having previously resigned from Congress. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha later that year, after having served as the Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly from 2009 to 2014.
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