The BJD to boost membership momentum, has launched an annual padayatra amid internal strife

BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. | Photo Credit: ANI

Facing internal discord following its defeat in this year’s Assembly elections in Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) announced on Friday (September 27, 2024) that it will step up its membership drive and continue its annual event. padayatratraditionally from October 2.

BJD president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held talks with members of the advisory committees formed after the party’s debate on the 2024 elections, and spoke to leaders from various districts at Sankha Bhawan, the BJD headquarters, here.

It criticizes the BJP

“Bharatiya Janata Party has failed to tackle rising prices of essential commodities, reduce crime against women and stop the outflow of investors. There was depression all around in the first 100 days of the BJP government,” said Mr Patnaik, addressing party leaders.

“In the 24 years of BJD rule from 2000 to 2024, Odisha’s per capita income growth rate is higher than that of the two-engine governments ruled by the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Madhya Pradesh,” he said.

Later addressing a press conference, BJD vice president and senior leader Debi Prasad Mishra said the party will conduct Jan Sampark Padayatra in two phases from October 2 to 6 and from October 21 to 30. He said the BJD will intensify its membership campaign from October 9 to December 9.

“BJD remains an active party, be it in the government or outside. We are the strongest opposition party in the history of Odisha. The way the BJP government has acted, the law and order situation has deteriorated and crimes against women are increasing, people are missing Mr. Patnaik’s leadership,” said senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya.

Recently, the BJD received a jolt when two of its Rajya Sabha members tendered their resignations from the Upper House and joined the BJP. The regional party is facing insurgency in many rural and urban areas where the representatives of the parties are changing. In the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, many businesses were conspicuous by their absence from the corporation meeting, sparking speculation of a split in the State’s largest urban corporation.