'Ally' At Centre, Rival In State: Why Naveen Patnaik’s BJP Politics Is Both Unique And Controversial

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik during a meeting, in New Delhi, Thursday, May 11, 2023. ( Image Source :PTI )

Odisha's ruling Biju Janata Dal, headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and the Bharatiya Janata Party enjoy an interesting relationship. In the political landscape of Odisha, a fierce battle goes on between the two parties. These two formidable forces often lock horns, vying for supremacy in the state. However, this stands in stark contrast to the scenario at the Centre, where the BJD has consistently stood shoulder to shoulder with the BJP, supporting all its decisions, policies and the Bills presented in Parliament, regardless of their contentious nature.

The recent spotlight was on the Delhi services Bill, a highly contentious legislation aimed at limiting the authority of transfer postings within the Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi government. The BJD not only supported this Bill but also announced that the party would oppose the no-confidence motion brought by the opposition against the Narendra Modi government. On the Manipur issue too, the BJD has not been very vocal against the BJP government.

Undoubtedly, Patnaik's political approach stands out as a distinctive model. While the opposition incessantly accuses the BJD of being a covert ally of the BJP, the latter has refrained from engaging in national-level politics against the BJD, opting instead to confine their battles solely to the state.

Naveen Patnaik's Exceptional Politics

Naveen Patnaik surpassed Jyoti Basu, who remainded chief minister of West Bengal for 23 years and 138 days, to become India's second longest serving CM. In the forthcoming assembly elections, Patnaik is most likely to win the state for another term. He will then likely surpass Sikkim's Pawan Chamling as the longest-serving CM in Indian history.

Notably, Patnaik's political career was unplanned. He was a blue-eyed boy from Delhi's elite circle. It is said that he cannot even speak Odia fluently, and people who have witnessed his politics closely believe that he is heavily dependent on officials to run the administration and politics. Patnaik is a graduate of Doon School who studied abroad, and had always kept his distance from state politics. But after the demise of his father, the former Odisha CM Biju Patnaik, he assumed control. And has effectively sustained it. Only once in his political career did he demonstrate an interest in national politics, and that was under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. During the NDA administration, he was appointed minister of steel and mines.

Ever since becoming the CM, his inclination towards actively participating in the realm of national politics has been noticeably lacklustre. In a steadfast manner, he maintains that the BJD stands firmly equidistant from both the Congress and the BJP. Amid the ongoing political discourse, however, a certain narrative has emerged, casting doubt on his true intentions. Detractors and those in the opposition have boldly claimed that he is, in fact, a covert accomplice of the saffron party.

Naveen Patnaik's Game Plan

Political analysts think that Naveen Patnaik's distinctive strategy is to keep a close relationship with the BJP-led federal government so that the Centre's financial support for Odisha doesn't dry up. Some political observers believe that Patnaik is on the side of the governing regime at the Centre because he wishes to remain the CM of Odisha. Despite some scattered allegations of corruption against his party, it is essential to note that the central government has never targeted Naveen Patnaik and his party colleagues in any corruption-related case through the Enforcement Directorate or the Central Bureau of Investigation.

In exchange, the BJD supported the Centre on the controversial Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill of 2019, CAA, UAPA Bill of 2019, RTI Amendment Bill, Triple Talaq Bill, NCT Amendment Bill, etc. As reported in the media, the Modi administration also not only provided financial incentives to Patnaik's state, but also granted it additional financial borrowing permission.

It is also noteworthy that the BJD supported the BJP's nomination of Ashwini Vaishnav, the current railway minister, to the Rajya Sabha. According to reports, Patnaik did so at the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All these make it evident that Patnaik has no pretence of neutrality or equidistance when it comes to national politics.

BJD's Conflict With Opposition Coalition

In a strategic move that speaks volumes about his political acumen, Naveen Panaik has made a conscious decision to refrain from aligning himself with the opposition alliance. This calculated choice stems from his astute understanding that such a collaboration would not yield the desired benefits for his own political aspirations. In assessing the political trajectory of an individual such as Patnaik, who currently lacks any discernible national aspirations, it appears improbable that aligning with the opposition would yield significant contributions to the realm of national politics. In this intriguing scenario, should he throw his weight behind the opposition alliance, a significant number of MPs from the BJD would undoubtedly bolster the alliance's prospects, ultimately leading to a potential loss for the BJP in Odisha.

Odisha has 21 representatives in the Lok Sabha and 10 in the Rajya Sabha. Patnaik continues to hold the Rajya Sabha seats as a result of the BJD's dazzling performance in the assembly elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress, which was once the BJD's primary opponent in the state, was unable to obtain a single seat. The BJP did, however, gain one seat. Any coalition with the INDIA bloc would entail assisting the Congress in reorganising its state organisation, which would not benefit Patnaik in any way. However, the prospect of the BJP assuming power at the Centre does not bode well for his party, the BJD. He believes that if this scenario were to unfold, the BJP would retaliate against the BJD, thereby negating any potential benefits. In hindsight, it appears that opting for India would have proven to be a rather detrimental choice for Patnaik.

NDA Dilemma 

A spinter group of the original Janata Dal, the Biju Janata Dal was established in 1997. Between the general elections of 1998 and 2004, they fought together, the BJD-BJP coalition also contested the 2000 and 2004 Orissa assembly elections jointly. In 2008, however, the situation altered due to the Kandhamal riots.

Home Minister Amit Shah visited Odisha last week and praised Patnaik, who reciprocated the gesture. The question then arises is why Naveen Patnaik is unwilling to join the NDA coalition. Political analysts believe that Patnaik's formal alliance with the BJP will not benefit him in the state. Odisha has approximately 97% Hindu majority, but it is also home to approximately 23% tribal and 17% Dalit populations.

The BJP of today is not the same as the BJP of Vajpayee's era. Therefore, an official alliance with hard-line Hindutva forces could be counterproductive, as it could cause discontent among tribals and Dalits. For instance, tribal communities in India oppose the Uniform Civil Code, and if BJD enters the NDA, the community will likely react negatively. Similarly, in this coalition, the BJD will have to cede seats to the BJP, and there are concerns within the party that the BJP will gradually end Patnaik's dominance since he has no apparent successor. Over the past two decades, Patnaik has evidently failed to cultivate a suitable successor or a competent lieutenant to assume a position of prominence. Despite his long tenure, Patnaik's legacy is marked by the absence of a notable individual who can be considered his second in command. In such a situation, seat-sharing with the BJP is indeed a risky proposition.

The author is a visiting professor of journalism, a political columnist, and a doctoral research scholar.

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