The resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, following protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) last month, may have marked a notable development in national politics. In Odisha, however, it appears to have had implications for the political landscape, with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), one of the country’s strongest regional parties, viewing it as a potential opportunity to regain political ground.

The party’s renewed confidence appears to stem from ground-level conversations that are critical of the pace of development under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, which is now well past its “honeymoon period” in office. Moreover, the Mohan Charan Majhi Government is yet to clearly articulate a narrative around its governance model.

After the setback in the 2024 Assembly election, the regional party has ceded ground to the BJP, losing three Rajya Sabha MPs, while its strength in the Odisha Legislative Assembly has dropped from 51 to 42, following the defection of eight MLAs during the Rajya Sabha elections.

Despite shifts in political dynamics across rural and urban local bodies over the past two years due to defections, the overall impact has been limited for a party that had secured nearly 70% of seats in the three-tier Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban bodies in 2022.

Political observers note that the scale of disintegration within the BJD remains contained, far below the levels anticipated after 24 years of uninterrupted rule and the weight of accumulated anti-incumbency. The exodus, though notable, also falls short of the turbulence seen in other regional parties such as the Trinamool Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT).

“We were never in doubt about our ability to bounce back as a strong regional force. We knew the new BJP government would eventually struggle under the weight of public expectations. It clearly lacks the capability to sustain the pace of development Odisha witnessed under Naveen Patnaik,” said Debi Prasad Mishra, senior vice president of the BJD.

Mr. Mishra further argued that the State’s economy has “lost direction”. “We inherited a situation where the government struggled to pay salaries. From there, we expanded the State’s annual budget to over ₹2 lakh crore. When we left office, Odisha ranked among the States with fiscal surpluses. Within just a couple of years, borrowing has surged, while progress on major projects has been negligible,” he said.

Veteran journalist Rabi Das echoed similar concerns, stating that the Mohan Charan Majhi government has failed to resolve key crises, allowing them to persist. “One of the most glaring administrative failures is the error-ridden school textbooks affecting lakhs of students. The situation demanded innovative intervention. Instead, the government appears to be buying time by handing the matter over to the Crime Branch after terming it a possible conspiracy,” he said.

The deteriorating law and order situation, particularly crimes against women and instances of mob violence, has further dented the government’s image. In response, the BJP has placed heavy emphasis on investment announcements. However, political observers note that such announcements have had limited impact on public perception, as they do not translate into immediate, lived improvements such as better roads, adequate teachers in schools, or effective delivery of welfare schemes.

Lack of strong alternative

Even as the BJP appears to be losing momentum in the State and, to some extent, at the Centre in the wake of protests such as those at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, the absence of a credible political alternative remains striking. The Congress has failed to revive itself, with frequent leadership changes dampening cadre enthusiasm and internal factionalism persisting. For the BJD, this vacuum has aided a gradual revival.

“Some leaders who joined the BJP have not received the prominence they expected, nor have they been able to bring their cadres along,” Mr. Mishra said.

A key positive for the BJD has been the renewed energy of party supremo Mr. Patnaik. Though advancing in age, he has notably changed his style of engagement with party workers. Earlier interactions were largely limited to formal appearances and clicking photographs with party workers. After his defeat, he has been more accessible at Sankha Bhawan, the party headquarters. In one such meeting, he was seen sitting patiently for over two hours and engaging directly with 42 leaders. The impromptu interaction had surprised many within the party.

Of late, Mr. Patnaik has taken an unambiguous political stance, clearly distancing himself from the BJP. He demanded the resignation of Mr. Pradhan in the wake of the NEET controversy and also came down heavily on the BJP over the change of the colour of the Indian Hockey team’s jersey to saffron. The former Chief Minister has announced that the party will fight the next election under his leadership.

The induction of Sujata Rout, wife of V.K. Pandian, into the BJD has also drawn attention. Party sources say Ms. Rout has shed the baggage of her bureaucratic background and her association with Mr. Pandian, and is now functioning independently. Her low-key and approachable style has helped her connect with district-level leaders and cadres, with some viewing her as a unifying presence within the party.

At the same time, the BJP government’s challenges are seen as stemming from internal and administrative constraints. “Mr. Majhi’s personal image as a clean politician remains intact. However, he is yet to be seen as an effective administrator,” said Mr. Das, adding, “He has neither reshuffled portfolios of underperforming Ministers nor acted decisively against bureaucratic lapses, even in the face of clear governance failures.”

Above all, the regional party has kept itself afloat by regularly presenting its views on important issues in the media, organising public agitations and strengthening its connection with cadres through organisational rejuvenation. The party has kept its fingers crossed for the rural and urban local-body polls scheduled next year.

Published - August 09, 2026 05:06 pm IST