‘Naveen is BJD’: Senior leader warns against any talk of successor

Bhubaneswar: A day before BJD marks its foundation day on Friday, senior party leader Bhupinder Singh on Thursday warned that the regional outfit could face a split if discussions over “new leadership” gain traction. This comes amid speculation about former IAS officer Sujata Kartikeyan Pandian’s possible entry into the party and assuming a key role.Bhupinder, a former Rajya Sabha member, said any attempt to project an alternative to Naveen Patnaik would be disastrous for the party. “In case of a new leadership, BJD may split. I can foresee that. Without Naveen Patnaik, BJD won’t survive. Naveen Patnaik is BJD and BJD is Naveen Patnaik,” he said, adding that the party chief remains “healthy and fully capable”.In recent days, several BJD leaders have reacted to the buzz over Sujata’s potential entry. Sujata — wife of V K Pandian, the former IAS officer-turned-BJD strategist who wielded significant influence ahead of the 2024 simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls but has since maintained a low profile — simply said, “I am travelling outside the country,” when asked about the buzz.Former minister and senior BJD leader Pratap Jena countered Bhupinder’s remarks, saying those spreading “misinformation” were never well-wishers of the party. He reiterated that Naveen Patnaik remains the unquestioned leader but maintained there was no reason to oppose the entry of competent individuals. “Sujata was an efficient IAS officer and served the state well. We will welcome her if she wishes to join the party and serve the people,” Jena said.BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty echoed that Naveen Patnaik is indeed central to the party’s identity but urged senior leaders like Bhupinder to focus on the “failure of the present dispensation”. Decisions on who joins the party, he stressed, rest solely with the BJD president. “Who will join the party and who will not is the prerogative of Shri Naveen Patnaik,” he said.Bhupinder, who quit the Congress to join BJD ahead of the 2014 elections when he was leader of opposition, has in the past openly questioned the party on various issues, including its ambiguous position on the Waqf Bill.