By Sunil Jena
Editor-in-Chief, The Politics Odia
Bhubaneswar : Political discussions within Odisha BJP have intensified amid growing speculation surrounding Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and his possible future role in Odisha politics.
The latest debate comes after several social media posts and online allegations targeting Dharmendra Pradhan and members of his family began circulating widely across digital platforms. Supporters of the Union Minister have alleged that a coordinated misinformation campaign is being carried out to damage his public image at a time when discussions around leadership change inside Odisha BJP are gaining momentum.
The controversy initially erupted after viral social media posts falsely attempted to link Dharmendra Pradhan with individuals allegedly connected to the NEET paper leak controversy. However, BJP supporters pointed out that the claims were later publicly clarified by those whose identities were misrepresented online.
One such clarification reportedly came from Nivedita Ekbote, associated with BJP youth activities in Maharashtra and a school principal, whose photograph was allegedly used in misleading social media narratives. She later clarified publicly that the viral claims were false.
Another online allegation attempted to connect the Union Minister’s family with a property in the United States through a social media account reportedly operated from abroad. BJP supporters and local leaders dismissed the allegation as baseless and politically motivated, stating that no financial or personal link existed between the Union Minister and the property owners being mentioned online.
The matter gained further attention after retired academic Dr. R. Jayaraman also reportedly issued a clarification distancing himself from claims circulating on social media.
Inside Odisha BJP, political observers say the controversy has coincided with increasing speculation over possible leadership restructuring, cabinet expansion and organisational changes in the state unit.
While there is no official indication from the BJP high command regarding any leadership transition, discussions around Dharmendra Pradhan’s growing influence in Odisha politics continue to remain active in political circles.
Supporters of the Union Minister argue that repeated online attacks reflect nervousness among political rivals over his popularity and administrative image. Critics, however, say the growing internal speculation itself reflects evolving power equations inside Odisha BJP.
For now, the BJP leadership has not officially responded to the larger political speculation, but the developments have added a fresh layer of intrigue to Odisha’s rapidly changing political landscape.
