Bhubaneswar/New delhi: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is battling political headwinds as its Rajya Sabha MPs united in Delhi to reject rumors of defections, while facing sharp criticism from the BJP over comments allegedly targeting President Droupadi Murmu.
In a strong show of solidarity, seven Rajya Sabha members of the BJD held a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday to refute media reports speculating defections within the party. The MPs condemned the rumors as baseless and reaffirmed their loyalty to the regional party, which has been grappling with internal challenges following the defection of two MPs to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the past five months.
The press conference came against the backdrop of BJD’s dwindling strength in the Rajya Sabha, where it now holds seven seats after two members joined the BJP. This political setback follows the party’s poor performance in the twin polls, where it failed to secure Lok Sabha seats and lost power in Odisha to the BJP.
Further fueling the speculation, Pallahara MLA Ashok Mohanty recently claimed that two more BJD MPs—a senior leader and a youth representative—might also switch to the BJP. Addressing these claims, BJD MP Sasmit Patra accused certain media platforms of “yellow journalism” and spreading fabricated stories.
“All seven BJD MPs stand firmly with the party and will continue to do so until our last breath,” Patra declared. He warned media outlets of legal action for publishing biased and false reports and condemned attempts to misinterpret photographs of BJD MPs meeting the Rajya Sabha Chairman as signs of coercion.
“The Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha are above political lines, and dragging their office into such baseless narratives is deeply unfortunate,” Patra stated.
Sulata Deo vs. PM Modi: War of Words:
Adding to the political drama, BJD MP Sulata Deo took exception to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks in the Lok Sabha. Referring to alleged attempts to destabilize the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998, Modi commented, “Bazaar mein maal tab bhi bikta tha” (buying and selling were possible even then).
Deo condemned the statement, saying, “We are MPs, not commodities for sale. Today, the BJP is inducting members who resigned from our party and yet claims that only sellable items are sold. Such remarks are hurtful and unacceptable.”
Her comments led to a verbal exchange with her former colleague Sujeet Kumar, who recently defected to the BJP and was elected to the Rajya Sabha.
BJP Fires Back Over President Murmu Remarks:
Meanwhile, the Odisha BJP accused the BJD of dragging President Droupadi Murmu into political debates. BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal criticized Sulata Deo for questioning the President’s silence on issues such as Manipur violence, Sambhal atrocities, and crimes against women in Odisha.
“The manner in which a BJD MP dragged President Murmu into petty politics is unacceptable and an insult to the highest office of the land. Her silence on Odisha’s rising crime rates does not justify such baseless attacks,” Biswal said.
He also demanded clarification from BJD President Naveen Patnaik, asking whether Deo’s remarks reflected her personal opinion or the party’s official stance. Biswal further accused the BJD of disrespecting Murmu in the past, citing a power blackout incident during her convocation address at an Odisha university.
Political Crossfire Intensifies:
The ongoing controversies have placed the BJD under intense scrutiny, with its MPs’ united front in Delhi aimed at countering rumors of defections while facing allegations of disrespecting the President.
The BJP has seized on these developments to question the BJD’s governance and integrity, amplifying tensions as both parties gear up for future electoral battles. For the BJD, this is a critical moment to reaffirm internal stability and public trust amidst political speculation and opposition criticism.
