Latest voice of dissent in BJD: Senior MLA warns Naveen Patnaik against ‘few individuals hijacking party’

In a letter to Patnaik that became public on Monday, Swain urged him to ensure equitable representation for all regions and communities, especially SC/STs, OBCs, minorities and women in proportion to their population.

“Let now a few individuals hijack the party, distort the social fabric or deepen regional imbalances. Only then can our party organisation truly uphold the ideals of social justice and regional balance,” Swain wrote.

On the recent controversy over the Waqf Bill, the veteran MLA said it raises serious questions about the party’s “stand on secularism”.

He said the party must reaffirm its commitment to social justice and secularism as its core planks and should take the cadres into full confidence.

The 72-year-old, who was elected as a Janata Dal MLA for the first time in 1990 under the leadership of Naveen’s father Biju Patnaik and remained with the BJD since its formation in 1997, is known to be among a group of senior leaders who are unhappy about the party’s stand to side with the BJP at the Centre over various issues, said party sources.

Swain wrote that the party must not forget that Biju Patnaik’s politics was rooted in social justice, with secularism and regional pride as its natural extensions.

“He envisioned a society where the marginalised are empowered with dignity, representation and opportunity. Under your leadership, too, these values have found expression. However, the situation today calls for clarity, courage and concrete action to deepen our social justice commitment across all sectors,” Swain said.

Senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra said the party has always emphasised empowering marginalised sections. On allegations of the party being “hijacked”, Mishra said only Swain can clarify who he is referring to. “Why is he being so impatient without waiting for the organisational poll process to be completed?” said Mishra.

To strengthen the party after its defeat in last year’s assembly and Lok Sabha polls, the BJD has been restructuring the organisation with the appointment of new presidents at the block and district levels and new members for the council and executive bodies. On April 19, Patnaik will be elected as the BJD president for the ninth consecutive time.