Bhubaneswar, Odisha: The political atmosphere in Odisha has intensified with the approaching Nuapada bypoll, as key political parties BJP, BJD, and Congress ramp up their campaigns with heavyweight leaders and star campaigners, igniting a major slugfest across the state. The dramatic exit of senior BJD leader and former Rajya Sabha member Amar Pattnayak, who quit BJD and joined BJP, has become a major talking point in every corner of Odisha.
Amar’s surprise induction into the BJP, especially in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, state president Manmohan Samal, and Odisha observer Vijaypal Singh Tomar, coincided strategically with BJD Supremo Naveen Patnaik’s campaign in Nuapada, further fueling the political discourse. This shift is seen as a setback for BJD, especially as Amar Pattnayak had served as the party’s IT-cell head and was considered one of its intellectual faces. The BJP views his joining as a strategic gain, leveraging his expertise in social media and election management, as well as his long tenure as an IAS officer, to strengthen organizational efforts ahead of crucial polls.
Mr. Pattnayak stated his desire to serve the nation and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed India. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi remarked that Amar had felt suffocated in the BJD and is now free to work openly, reflecting a sentiment shared by other defectors who seek independence and greater agency in the BJP. Responding to this, senior BJD leader Devi Prasad Mishra called Amar’s move a political stunt, questioning his reasons for leaving despite holding a key role and advising party discipline.
Political experts believe that Amar’s departure, especially during the crucial Nuapada bypoll period, exposes deeper internal conflicts and disquiet within BJD, adding urgency and drama to Odisha’s evolving political scenario.
