Dissidents are seen in the three major parties in Odisha. The major player, the BJD, has been creating dissidents since the beginning whenever it ejects a powerful leader from the party or the Government.
Though the Pyaribabu’s revolt was neutralised effectively by the party in 2012, it left some dissidents when they were dropped from the ministry. After the 2014 Assembly poll, another set of dissident leaders was created who were denied tickets or got defeated in the poll. After the formation of ministry, one more group of dissidents emerged who were deprived of a ministry or a better portfolio. Further set of dissidents was created when the party dropped Prafulla Ghadei or distanced from certain leaders due to the allegation of their involvement in the chit fund scam. Dropping of Raghunath Mohanty from the ministry was also a worry for the party. last axing was former Health Minister Atanu Nayak in SUM Hospital fire issue.
On the other hand, some sitting powerful leaders were seen hostile to the party, towards the middle of 2016. Minister Dr Damodar Rout was seen openly criticizing the Government. MP Baijayanta Panda was not seen supporting the State Government like before. MP Nagendra Pradhan was seen aligning with Damababu. There was almost a chaotic situation in BJD. There was a public perception that many BJD leaders will defect to BJP. There was also the talk of a new regional party before the 2017 PRI poll where a few BJD leaders will defect. Political observers were keenly watching the house-repair activity of BJD president and CM Naveen Patnaik. But BJD got consolidated.
What was BJD’s dissident management strategy that saved the party in spite of post-2014 turbulenceIJ BJD first co-opted the Puri-MlA during the Nabakalebar festival through a Cabinet equivalent post to balance Puri politics. Though the festival is over, BJD continues to bless the MlA with the privilege. The district planning board system was used to absorb the party leaders who were unhappy. The Rajya Sabha selection of three big leaders such as Bishnu Das, Prasanna Acharya and Bhaskar Rao consolidated its pillars in three regions of the State. Crowning of Das with the Rajya Sabha seat might have displeased his archrival Damababu. Fortunately, the murder incidence of Mahendra Swain of Paradip went in favour of Rout as his constituency’s Congress rival Bapi Sarkhel got arrested as an accused in the case. Dambabu has reasons to be happy before the 2017 PRI poll where he had no competitors. Former Minister Surya Narayan Patro had the potency of turning to a dissident. BJD re-inducted him into power-ring during the Mahanadi issue and gave him prominence. It made Patro cheerful again. In the meanwhile, Parafulla Ghadei’s rival leader Kalpataru Das passed away. He had no enemies now. BJD gave prominence to his son Pritiranjan Ghadei again in the constituency level. Prafullababu is also invited to the State Budget consultation meetings. It might have given him some solace. Jajpur was balanced. Though some accusation was leveled against the son of Prafulla Samal in the technical institution case, BJD did not upset his mood. BJD stalwart Raghunath Mohanty, who had to lose Ministry due to his son’s domestic quarrel, was appeased by efforts at party leve to settle his domestic issue and Mohanty is with BJD wholeheartedly now. In case of certain chit fund accusations, party has remained silent waiting for CBI action before it axes the leader to avoid dissidence.
If the party introduces an exit plan for the senior leaders or the scam-accused popular leaders in 2019, the party will throw a ticket-accommodation plan for the siblings. BJD has also satisfied leaders in various ways who had defected from NCP, JMM or other parties to the BJD. For instance, Naveen Nanda, a potential dissident and former MlA from Dhenkanal, has been co-opted as party observer for 2017 PRI poll. Atanu Nayak has been given prominence in his district by the party to keep him satisfied. Thus BJD has set its house in order before 2017 PRI poll and none of its prominent leaders has crossed floor to the power-aspiring BJP camp.
INC is the second major player in Odisha. There has been dissidence in the party since it lost power in 2000 in the State. The dissidents are of two types such as the ones who are in race for the PCC president post and the others who are after MlA tickets. Party offered Prasad Harichandan to the OPCC to lead the State unit as he is a young and clean person with effective legislative background. He started working with a “we” slogan since 2016. The organization went on well with multiple high profile district Pada Jatras. Sooner, the dissidence surfaced at the State leadership level which moved like a forest fire to burn the tying rope between the PCC and the ClP. It was aggravated during the Mahanadi issue. later, AICC had to intervene to set the house in order before the PRI poll. Besides, the constituency level dissidence was settled in many areas though it is seen persisting in some other places. Former CM Girdihar Gomango’s quit from the party was a setback. The recent defection of some youth leaders and the two brothers of former CM Hemenanda Biswal has left a bad taste in public.
BJP State unit was also hunted by the dissidence ghost. The dissidence started when Nuapada MlA Basant Panda was given the State president post. Party perhaps selected him from a west Odisha regional strategy perspective but it was difficult for all leaders to value the selection criterion. CBI reference to Dilip Ray in coal scam has disheartened him who is seen slowly distancing from the party. Mahanadi issue proved to be a stimulus where Bijoy Mohapatra is seen taking a different stand from the party and distancing him from the party activities. The State leadership has been virtually given to Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is seen pushing ahead his combating strategy against BJD in spite of dissidence in the party. BJP has become attractive for defection of leaders from other parties.