Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Thursday paid tributes to the legendary freedom fighter, aviator, and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik on his 29th death anniversary.
“Humble tributes to the great public figure, freedom fighter, and former Chief Minister of Odisha, Biju Patnaik, on his death anniversary. His contribution towards education and empowerment will always remain an inspiration for all. He was a proud Odia with self-esteem,” the Chief Minister posted on X.
In a statement, Naveen described Biju Patnaik, affectionately known as Biju Babu, as “Odisha’s pride and a great mass leader” whose fearless spirit and visionary policies continue to inspire generations. “On the occasion of the death anniversary of Odisha’s pride, great mass leader and former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik, I offer my heartfelt tributes. He played a significant role in India’s freedom struggle. By empowering people at the grassroots level, he strengthened the Panchayati Raj system. His contributions towards women’s reservation in politics, industrial development, and protecting Odia pride and self-respect are unparalleled. Biju Babu’s policies and ideals continue to inspire us. The Biju Janata Dal remains forever committed to serving the people and soil of Odisha.”
Biju Patnaik passed away on April 17, 1997, in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, the 29th death anniversary has turned into a political flashpoint in Odisha, with the BJD and a coalition of sidelined veterans organising competing commemorations across the state.
The BJD, founded in his name after his death and which ruled Odisha for 24 years until its 2024 electoral defeat, has announced statewide observances of ‘Prabada Purusha Dibasa’ (Legendary Leader Day). Events are planned in all 147 assembly constituencies, featuring seminars on Biju’s contributions to the freedom struggle and Odisha’s development, floral tributes, garlanding of statues, blood donation camps, fruit distribution to patients, and intellectual discussions. Senior BJD leaders, including Debi Prasad Mishra, emphasised that the programmes aim to educate the younger generation about his legacy while carrying out social service activities.
In a direct challenge, a group of prominent Biju loyalists, many of whom were instrumental in forming the BJD but later marginalized, have united under the non-political “Odisha Nagarika Mancha” (Odisha Citizens’ Forum) for the first time. Key figures include Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Minister Dilip Ray and former MLAs Bijoy Mohapatra, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Amar Satpathy and Pravat Tripathy. They have planned large-scale events, framing the anniversary as a platform for all admirers of Biju Babu rather than any single party.
These leaders, who helped establish the BJD following Patnaik’s death, argue that Biju’s legacy belongs to the entire state and its people, not exclusively to the BJD or the Patnaik family. “People who admire Biju Babu will come together to commemorate the day and to deliberate on the ideologies of Biju Babu. We have invited everyone. There is nothing political about it,” Bijoy Mohapatra told Express.
Suspended BJD MLAs, Ramakant Bhoi and Aravind Mohapatra, former MLA Prasanna Kumar Patasani and even former OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik were seen at the event at OUAT here.
The regrouping comes against the backdrop of BJD’s post-2024 setbacks and growing internal dissent. Veteran leaders have openly criticised the centralization of power, lack of internal democracy, and failure to implement structural changes after the electoral losses. Sources indicate the Mancha could serve as a platform for disgruntled voices, with hints of potential new political alignments emerging in the coming months. Ray’s Rajya Sabha victory has been seen as a significant rallying point.
BJD leaders have pushed back firmly, asserting that party president and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik is the true political heir to his father’s legacy. Senior BJD leader Arun Sahoo criticised the forum’s move as an attempt to exploit Biju’s name for political gain, which they believe will not succeed.
