BJD gives impression of being pro-BJP

Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) seems to be tilted towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) notwithstanding its leader Naveen Patnaik’s repeated assertion that it has a policy of equidistance from the saffron outfit and the Congress.

This was clear from the BJD’s support to BJP-led NDA’s candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh for the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman on Thursday.

And significantly, this move followed the BJD MPs’ walkout from the Lok Sabha during the recent no-confidence motion proceedings against the Modi Government, triggering criticism that it was an indirect support to the BJP.

The argument of the BJD in voting for the NDA RS Deputy Chairman nominee appears to be childishly defensive. The BJD said it backed Harivansh Singh as he belongs to the Janata Dal (United), which has “ideological similarities” with the BJD following from the Jayaprakash Narayan movement.

The BJD’s reasoning appears to be ridiculous as it applies to a satirical Odia proverb: Chatu amisha, benta niramisha (the ladle is non-vegetarian but its handle is vegetarian while preparing a non-vegetarian dish).

So, if the JD(U) is ideologically similar to the BJD, why is the Nitish Kumar-led party a component of the BJP-dominated NDA and the BJD is not? The answer to this was provided by none else than Naveen Patnaik as long back as in 2009 when the BJD broke its alliance with the BJP dubbing it as a communal force in the wake of the Kandhamal anti-Christian riots.

The BJD by its moves now seems to be creating an impression that it may have to strike a deal with the BJP in a compelling situation after the 2019 elections.

Many political observers feel the BJD leadership, for reasons best known to it, is indirectly sending out a message of its defensiveness despite a widely-held perception that the party is well on its way to a record five-term rule in the State.