A year into ousting Naveen Patnaik, how BJP battles credibility crisis in Odisha

India Today

2 days ago

Within just a year of taking office in Odisha, the BJP finds itself under a siege of sorts—not only from the Opposition Congress and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) but from murmurs of discontent within its own ranks. State BJP insiders concede, often in hushed tones, that the Mohan Charan Majhi administration's handling of rising crimes, governance challenges and political perception battles has sparked unease among both senior party leaders and grassroots workers.The disquiet is rooted in a series of disturbing incidents that have scarred the state's social and political landscape. Public confidence has been shaken by a string of horrific incidents: the gang-rape of a young woman in Gopalpur this June, the harrowing self-immolation of a student in a Balasore college in July, and the alleged setting ablaze of a minor girl in Balanga the same month.advertisementThen, in Ganjam, Dalit men were allegedly humiliated—forced to crawl, tonsured and made to drink drain water over unverified allegations of cattle smuggling. In Rayagada, a tribal couple was yoked to a plough like cattle. The state's Christian community, too, has faced sporadic attacks.These episodes have provided the Opposition ammo against the government and the ruling party. Both the BJD and Congress have repeatedly accused the BJP of failing to live up to the people's mandate. The delay in convening the monsoon session of the legislative assembly is being interpreted by some as an attempt to sidestep uncomfortable questions that could corner the government on law and order and governance issues.
But perhaps more worrying for the BJP is the internal questioning that refuses to die down. 'It is one thing to combat attacks from Opposition parties. But it is becoming difficult to avoid the questions our own workers are asking,' said a senior BJP leader. Several BJP members believe the Balasore and Balanga cases could have been managed more decisively. Allegations have surfaced that the local police initially attempted to suppress facts, further eroding public trust.The unrest is not limited to the party cadre but extends into the state's bureaucratic machinery. Frequent transfers of officers have reportedly fatigued and confused the administration. 'You need to give one officer some time to understand the nitty-gritty of a department. If you keep transferring them so frequently, how will they work?' said a senior official, who did not wish to be named.Another official bluntly asked: 'When you defeat a government of 25 years and come to power with a huge mandate, you need to perform. Tell me, what has this government done so far?'Adding to the political turbulence are allegations of vote theft levelled by Opposition parties. These claims, while unproven, have contributed to a perception problem for the BJP in certain regions. For instance, in Puri district's Konark, a local vendor expressed shock over the 2024 Lok Sabha election outcome for Puri seat, which went to the BJP's Sambit Patra.Of the seven assembly segments under Puri, two were won by the BJD and the rest by the BJP. 'In our booth, most are supporters of Naveen Patnaik (former chief minister and BJD president). But to our surprise, the BJP won,' said the vendor, who is from Pipili assembly constituency, a BJD stronghold from 2000 to 2024 before the BJP claimed it. He also questioned how the BJD, with 51 assembly seats, had failed to win any Lok Sabha seat in 2024.advertisementSuch line of public questioning, BJP insiders admit, has planted doubts among some voters, leading to conversations about whether the BJD—with all its flaws—might have been the better choice after all.At the centre of these crosscurrents is chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the BJP's surprise pick for the top post. His appointment was initially framed as a generational shift, signalling fresh energy and a break from entrenched political styles. However, detractors within both the party and the administrative establishment argue Majhi has yet to assert the decisive authority needed in moments of crisis. Some BJP voices suggest Odisha may need a more experienced and commanding figure at the helm to stabilise the political ship.For now, the BJP government walks a precarious tightrope, battling opposition offensives, calming an anxious bureaucracy, countering narratives of electoral impropriety and reassuring a restless party cadre. Whether it can convert its 2024 electoral triumph into sustained governance credibility remains the central, unanswered question.In a state where the weight of expectations is heavy and the political memory of 25 years of BJD rule still lingers, the BJP's challenge is not only to govern but to prove that the change Odisha voted for was indeed worth it.advertisementSubscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch