Bhubaneswar: With Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) getting ready to revive their alliance in Odisha, several leaders who recently switched sides appear to be worried over their political future. Some leaders, particularly those who quit BJD and joined the saffron party, find themselves in the midst of uncertainties.
As the two political parties are stated to be engaged in seat-sharing talks for the upcoming elections, the party hoppers are afraid of getting sidelined in ticket allocation.
At least four sitting MLAs, all associated with the ruling BJD earlier, and over 10 former legislators, had recently joined BJP, hoping that their political future would be brighter in the saffron camp. Those who felt neglected and sidelined in BJD were hopeful of getting BJP tickets for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Prominent among such leaders is six-time MLA and former Minister Arabinda Dhali, who now represents the Jayadev constituency in Khurda district. He recently quit BJD and made a return to the BJP after a decade, apprehending possible denial of ticket by the ruling party for the coming polls. Dhali also holds considerable influence in Malkangiri district.
Similarly, Gopalpur MLA and former Minister Pradeep Panigrahi was considered a major entrant for BJP. Once considered very close to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Panigrahi held the responsibility of representing Naveen in his Hinjili Assembly constituency. This apart, he also served as the Ganjam district president of BJD, spearheading the party’s electoral strategies in the district, which is also the home district of the Chief Minister.
However, his standing within the BJD took a hit following a job scam case and his arrest. Though Panigrahi denied the corruption charges, he was expelled from BJD for ‘anti-people’ activities.
Recognising Panigrahi’s experience and potential, BJP inducted him into the party apparently before the alliance negotiations with BJD had begun. The Gopalpur MLA also remained optimistic about restoring his public image, despite the setbacks within his former party.
Similarly, MLA from Telkoi in Keonjhar district and former Minister Premananda Nayak faced public embarrassment in his constituency when the party purportedly threw its support behind another leader. This prompted him to resign from BJD and then joinBJP.
Another leader, Prasant Jagdev, sitting MLA from Chilika constituency, holds significant sway in three Assembly segments within the Khurda district. However, his tenure with the BJD came to an abrupt halt after he was expelled for allegedly assaulting a Dalit BJP leader.
Amid rapidly changing political landscape in the state, these leaders now find their future completely uncertain as BJD and BJP are moving towards forging an alliance once again. Given this evolving situation, these former BJD stalwarts might not be as valuable to the BJP anymore. During seat-sharing negotiations between the two political parties, these leaders might get ignored in the process of ticket allocation.
Apart from party hoppers, disgruntled leaders in both BJD and BJP appear to be worried over a tie-up between the two political parties for the upcoming elections. The plans of several such leaders who were looking to switch sides before elections now seem to have been foiled.
As per sources, some of these leaders are likely to contest the upcoming elections as independent candidates in the event of denial of ticket if an alliance if firmed up between BJD and BJP. Some of them are also ready to join Congress if the grand old party offers them ticket to contest the elections, they added.
