Bhubaneswar, Sep 11: In a rare and candid statement, veteran Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik has expressed deep dissatisfaction with the party’s current functioning, warning that he may distance himself if corrective steps are not taken.

Speaking to media after a long silence, Mallik confirmed that he remains a member of the BJD but has refrained from participating in any organizational activities. “If the party does not function properly going forward, I will step away,” he said, signalling growing unrest within the ranks of Odisha’s ruling party.

Mallik criticized the BJD for failing to play the role of a responsible opposition at the national level and accused it of drifting away from its founding ideology. He lamented that the party no longer reflects its original values and has become increasingly centralized.

The senior leader revealed that he had offered several suggestions to strengthen the party’s structure, including the formation of a Political Affairs Committee (PAC) and a Discipline Committee. While these two proposals were accepted, other key recommendations were ignored. “No one has consulted me, nor have I met anyone from the leadership,” he added.

Mallik dismissed the idea of forming a new BJD faction, stating that the time is not right for such a move. Instead, he emphasized the need to revive and properly manage the original BJD.

His remarks come at a time when the party is already grappling with internal dissent, defections, and criticism over centralized decision-making. Mallik’s warning adds weight to the growing chorus of senior voices demanding reform and decentralization within the party.

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