The rise and fall of Naveen Patnaik’s 24-year tenure
New Delhi: After a long gap of 24 years, the people of Delhi have got this opportunity once again. Odisha Voted for change. Naveen Patnaik, one of the state’s most popular leaders, was voted out of power. Patnaik, who entered politics after the death of his father Biju Patnaik, led Odisha with a vision rooted in regional pride and development. He won both the hearts and votes of the people with his focus on social welfare and transparency. However, Patnaik’s rule faced criticism over time for being alienated from the electorate and overly dependent on bureaucratic advisers, especially the VK Pandian. When BJP Having gained an edge in the state in the previous elections and winning 9 out of 21 seats and 23 out of 147 seats in the state assembly in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the sweep of the saffron party’s victory in the state would have certainly surprised even the opposition parties. BJD,
What caused the BJD to lose popular support?
The V.K. Pandian factor: Though there may have been many reasons for Naveen Patnaik’s downfall, the most immediate and perhaps the most noticeable one was his excessive dependence on bureaucrat-turned-politician VK Pandian. Pandian, who was Patnaik’s personal secretary for a long time before quitting his job and joining politics, took decisions within the BJD during elections. Pandian was the most visible face and the most important voice in the party. Not only this, many considered Pandian to be Naveen Patnaik’s political heir. By the time Naveen Patnaik announced that Pandian was not his political heir, it was perhaps too late for the party. Pandian’s strong influence in BJD politics had already led to the exodus of many old-timers from the party. The BJP, which was gradually expanding its base in the state by ousting the Congress, benefited from this exodus.
Economic and social crises led to anti-incumbency sentiment against the BJD: After 24 years of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) rule, public fatigue with the party’s rule became clearly visible. Voters became frustrated with a leadership perceived to be out of touch with local realities, as economic and social issues such as high unemployment and low education index persisted. These problems, which were once mitigated by the BJD’s welfare schemes that had boosted Naveen Patnaik’s popularity, lost their effectiveness over time. This deterioration in governance created an opportunity for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to highlight these failures and present itself as a viable alternative, leading to change Away from BJD.
Cultural Controversy: The Ratna Bhandar issue, related to the loss of the key to Lord Jagannath’s treasury, was used by the BJP to highlight the BJD’s alleged disrespect for Odia culture. This resonated with voters, who saw it as a symbol of the party’s disconnect from regional pride.
Disturbance of Fishermen Communities: The BJD also faced discontent from Odisha’s marine fishermen, who were unhappy with government policies affecting their livelihood. The high cost of diesel has crippled fishing operations, forcing many fishermen to reduce their activities or work collectively to save fuel. Srikant Parida, president of the Odisha Marine Fish Producers Association, highlighted the lack of subsidised diesel and the dire financial situation of fishermen. Repeated appeals for subsidy and inclusion in social security schemes fell on deaf ears by the state government, leading to widespread frustration.
Closed doors of Lord Jagannath Temple: The Bharatiya Janata Party made the closure of the gates of the Jagannath temple an issue in its campaign, which contributed to its electoral success. In Odisha, where devotion to Lord Jagannath has great cultural significance, the temple was closed to devotees since the pandemic lockdown began on March 25, 2020. Though it reopened on December 23 after nine months, only the main gate was accessible. The Naveen Patnaik-led government cited the ‘Shri Mandir Parikrama’ project as the reason for keeping the other gates closed. Despite the inauguration of the corridor, three gates remained closed, leading to long queues at Singhadwar and growing demands for their reopening.
The BJP in Odisha has demanded the reopening of all the four gates. It accused the BJD government of disrupting the communication between devotees and their deities and called the issue an attack on ‘Odia pride’ (Odia Asmita).
What did the BJP do right in Odisha?
Effective campaign and distance from BJD: The BJP’s successful campaign focused on addressing local issues and capitalising on anti-incumbency sentiment. The party highlighted economic challenges and cultural grievances, and positioned itself as a viable alternative to the BJD. Initially, the BJD formed an alliance with the BJP, which lasted until 2009. This partnership helped the BJP establish a strong political base in the state.
Policy differences and conflicts over seat sharing led to the collapse of the alliance, leaving the BJD to contest the elections independently. Under Patnaik’s leadership, the party’s focus on development, women’s empowerment and disaster management resonated well with voters, leading to significant electoral victories. In the 2014 and 2019 elections, the BJD’s dominance was evident with substantial wins in both state assembly and Lok Sabha seats, partly due to its decision to field a significant percentage of female candidates.
Playing the Odia pride card and the influence of VK Pandian: The BJP skillfully leveraged regional sentiments by playing the Odia pride card, capitalising on voters’ deep cultural ties and their desire for local representation. They criticised the BJD’s reliance on non-Odia advisors, particularly the influence of VK Pandian, whose growing public role and influence over administrative decisions, despite being a non-Odia bureaucrat, was disliked by many. This strategic focus on Odia identity and dissatisfaction with Pandian’s prominence resonated with voters, increasing the BJP’s appeal and contributing to their electoral success in Odisha.
