Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) appears to be passing through a rough phase after its poll debacle in Odisha last year with a number of party heavyweights and frontline leaders making utterances on various political issues.
Remarks being made by these leaders from time to time have been causing considerable embarrassment to the Naveen Patnaik-led regional party.
As the party continues to encounter many challenges, senior BJD leader and former Minister Ashok Chandra Panda virtually targeted the frontline leaders in the regional outfit. He suggesting that some senior leaders should keep a low profile in party affairs in order to bolster the organisation by giving others an opportunity in leadership.
Citing the example of the legendary Dharmapada, he sought to present the story of the 12-year-old son of sculptor Bishu Maharana, who according to cultural beliefs, sacrificed himself to save 1,200 workers and his father during the construction of the Konark Sun Temple.
In order to provide the much needed strength and power to BJD president Naveen Patnaik some senior leaders need to step aside and guide decision-making from a ‘distance’, said Panda.
“To keep Naveen Patnaik in power, we will have to sacrifice something. We can observe from a distance whether our members are working as per expectations. It will strengthen Naveen Patnaik as well as BJD,” the ex-Minister said while interacting with reporters on the occasion of Holi.
The senior leader further stated that overcoming internal differences and uniting all would strengthen the party.
Reacting to Panda’s suggestion, senior BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma said these are his personal views. However, Das Burma acknowledged that BJD was going through a challenging phase. “We need a good balance of experience and young leadership to help the party move forward in these difficult times. Unity of party cadres is important,” he said.
The remarks from these senior BJD leaders come at a time when open rivalry and public dispute between some BJD legislators has come to the spotlight along with sightings of a few BJD leaders attending functions with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seniors.