Ever since its inception, BJD has not tasted defeat in the Assembly elections, but this time it seems that the road ahead will not be as easy
Bhubaneswar: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik turns 21 Wednesday. Secularism and value-based politics coupled with the objective of Odisha and its people’s development formed the basis of the party, founded December 26, 1997 after the death of former Chief Minister Biju Patnaik.
In 2000, BJD formed the government in the state with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As the party emerged stronger each year, it severed its ties with the BJP in 2009. Since then, the BJD has been governing the state, wining successive Assembly elections and currently it is in power for the fourth consecutive term.
Ever since its inception, BJD has not tasted defeat in the Assembly elections. But this time, it seems that the road ahead will not be as easy for the party as it has been so far. Opposition BJP and to some extent the Congress have become more active compared to what they were earlier. The party is especially facing tough challenge from the BJP, which is in power at the Centre.
The saffron party – right from its top hierarchy to the state leadership, is trying its best to counter the BJD on every front, while the Congress in the incapable hands of Niranjan Patnaik, too has become some what active after its victory in recently held Assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Though the BJD is leaving no stone unturned to checkmate the Opposition, the road ahead for the party is not the same as it used to be, opined a local political analyst.
On the other hand, despite their best efforts, the Opposition has not succeeded in its mission to tarnish the image of BJD chief Naveen Patnaik. However, anti-incumbency feelings against the party’s local representatives are high in most constituencies and this may be reflected in the ensuing polls unless the leadership deals with it effectively, the analyst said.
While the farmers are unhappy with the state government and blame it for their plight, the middle class too is disillusioned as all the major welfare projects of the Naveen government are primarily aimed at the economically backward class of the society.
Inflation is high, while employment opportunities are a rarity.
Meanwhile, the party is all set to celebrate its 21st foundation day Wednesday in a big way by organising mega events at both constituency and block levels. Naveen will grace the state-level celebrations here at the party office in the Capital, while various senior leaders will join the celebrations at the constituency and block levels. The party has decided to reach the people with its welfare schemes and Central negligence to the state like non accord of special category status, paddy MSP hike, etc.
“We will celebrate the foundation day in each and every constituency in the state. About 10,000 people will attend each event. We will tell the people about the poll promises we made in 2014 and what we have done to implement them. We will highlight all developmental works done by the BJD, financial assistances given under various schemes, performances on disaster management and about other welfare programmes taken so far,” BJD vice-president and Cabinet Minister Surya Narayan Patro said.
During the upcoming meetings and rallies, the party leaders will also discuss what more can be done for people in future, he said.
When asked whether the BJD president will blow bugle for the elections on the foundation day, the BJD leader said, “We had blown the whistle for the elections soon after the results of 2014 were declared. This time, we will blow the bugle for the 2019 war.”