Sunil Jena,
Editor-in-Chief, The Politics Odia
Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s political landscape has once again entered a phase of intense speculation following the suspension of Aravind Mohapatra from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). What initially appeared as an isolated disciplinary action soon transformed into a broader political narrative involving senior leaders, internal trust deficits, and strategic vigilance.
At the centre of this unfolding story stands Bijoy Mohapatra, a veteran leader whose political relevance continues to attract attention within and outside the party. Rumours suggested that Bijoy Mohapatra was exploring the possibility of forming a new political outfit, potentially weakening BJD at a critical juncture.
Adding fuel to this narrative was the name of Pranab Prakash Das, popularly known as Bobby Das. Political circles buzzed with claims that Bobby Das was aligned with Bijoy Mohapatra in this alleged plan. However, emerging information from party insiders paints a very different picture.
Sources indicate that the BJD leadership, under Naveen Patnaik, was closely monitoring developments to prevent any internal fracture. Far from being a co-conspirator, Bobby Das was reportedly entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining political vigilance, keeping a close watch on emerging alignments and potential risks.
This approach reflects a long-standing political style within Biju Janata Dal: quiet control, minimal public confrontation, and decisive internal management. Instead of reacting publicly, the party appears to have opted for strategic observation and containment.
The episode underscores a critical reality of contemporary politics: not every silence indicates weakness, and not every visible move tells the complete story. In Odisha, power continues to operate through signals rather than statements.
As state politics heats up, one thing remains clear: BJD is determined to prevent internal disruption, and its leadership is willing to deploy trusted leaders to safeguard organisational stability.
Whether this strategy succeeds in the long run will shape Odisha’s political trajectory in the months ahead.
