Bhubaneswar: Regional parties have always had, and continue to have greater acceptance in Odisha, eminent speakers at a conclave held in Bhubaneswar said.
The political environment of the state has always been conducive for regional party politics, which is why Biju Janata Dal (BJD) could be in power for over 24 years.
However, in the aftermath of the 2024 elections, there seems to be a growing clamour for an alternative regional party as the BJD appeared to have failed to live up to regional aspirations, eminent politicians and thought leaders said at the conclave organised to discuss federalism and the future of regional party politics.
Regional parties always help strengthen federalism, which is at the heart of democracy, said Yamini Aiyar, former president and CEO of New Delhi based Centre for Policy Research.
Delivering the keynote address, Aiyar also argued that a double-engine sarkar may not necessarily deliver better development and governance to a state as people have seen in Odisha over the past year.
People of Odisha may want to explore the possibility of a new regional party, but any such move must be pursued with a clear agenda and strong leadership, said Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, chairman of Eastern Media Ltd and former MP.
Former finance minister Prafulla Ghadai and former union minister Braja Kishore Tripathy echoed Patnaik’s suggestion. Whenever national parties are in power, the state’s interests have not been justly addressed, Ghadai said. On the other hand, given the social, economic and political diversity of India, regional parties are always better positioned to serve the people of their states, Tripathy argued.
CPI(M) leader Santosh Das said it was not always true that regional parties delivered better because they were closer to the people. Unless a regional party sets itself clear ideological goals and truly embraces the politics of decentralisation and participatory governance, the outcome could even be worse than the rule of a national party.
Vijay Mahajan, National Convenor of Bharat Jodo Abhiyan, pointed out that while the state’s gross domestic product had grown at an accelerated pace well under the BJD government, it didn’t translate into improving people’s lives. While Odisha’s rank among the states and union territories improved to 15 in terms of per capita income, it remained one of the worst performers on human development indicators, ranked 32nd.
While agreeing with other speakers on the need to explore a new regional front, veteran leader Bijoy Mohapatra advised caution and patience. There is an environment of instability and uncertainty, he said, suggesting a “wait and watch” approach. The coming year, 2026, will be a turning point not only for politics in Odisha but also for politics at a national level. The upcoming elections for the post of vice president will be a test for the BJD, he said.
BJD leader Latika Pradhan said the regional party always remained committed to the idea of a strong federal system and worked to promote and protect the interests of Odisha.
Earlier introducing the topic of the conclave, Founder Director of Odisha Dialogues Rajesh Mahapatra said independent India’s history tells us that the weakening of federalism leads to weakening of democracy and vice versa.
People often think a strong leader and a centralised system of governance can deliver better until they come to be at the receiving end. And when they do, it might be too late, which is why it is imperative to strengthen federalism, and thus strengthen democracy, Mahapatra said. Regional parties do have an important role to play in this regard, he said.
Odisha Dialogues is a thought leadership and policy advocacy forum that was founded during the Covid19 pandemic, with a view to work toward a new development blueprint for the state.