After the national executive meeting of BJP at Bhubaneswar, the BJP State unit has logically planned to move to the district level to expand its organisational activities. It has organised the first follow-up meeting in Mayurbhanj district and has shared its plan to conduct many such meetings in other districts.
During the BJD-BJP alliance days, the BJP had a presence in many areas of the State. In 1999 lok Sabha elections, the party had won nine MP seats and subsequently had bagged seven MP seats in 2004. The number reduced to zero in 2009 and to one in 2014 lok Sabha poll when the BJP went to the poll solo. Similarly, in 2000 Assembly poll, the party had won 38 seats and 32 seats in 2004 poll. After the fall of alliance, the BJP managed to procure six Assembly seats in 2009 and 10 seats in 2014 Assembly poll. In 2014 lok Sabha poll, the BJP took away the Sundergarh seat from the INC with a narrow lead of 18,829 votes, attributed to the Dillip Ray factor, the BJP MlA candidate of Rourkela who checked the critical vote flow to BJD from the city.
Though the BJP won only one lS seat, its strength had increased in other seats. In Bargarh lok Sabha constituency, the BJP candidate lost by 11,178 votes. In Sambalpur constituency, the MP candidate lost by only 30,576 votes. In Kalahandi, the BJP lok Sabha candidate lost by 56,347 votes. Besides one winning seat and small margin loss in three lok Sabha constituencies, the BJP occupied second position in six seats such as Keonjhar, Mayurbhanja, Baleswar, Dhenkanal, Bolangir and Bhubaneswar.
There is another interesting story that often fails to get limelight. It is not that the BJP added new four Assembly seats in 2014 to the existing six seats of 2009. The gains were the result of grassroots struggle of the party caders. The party lost five of its 2009 prized seats in 2014 Assembly poll such as Bonei, Sambalpur, Nilgiri, Baliguda and G Udayagiri, only retaining Patnagarh. It gained nine new seats in 2014 from its rivals such as Padmapur, Brajrajnagar, Rourkela, Kuchinda, Deogarh, Nuapada, Khariar, Chilika and Remuna. It gave a tough fight in Assembly constituencies of Talasara, Birmitrapur, Rengali, Sambalpur, Patna, Keonjhar, Rairangpur, Udala, Baripada, Morada, Baleswar, Nilagiri, Dhamnagar, Dhenkanal, Parajanga, Pallahara, Talcher, Junagarh, Dhamragarah, Mahakalapada, Khurda, Nimapara, Ranpur, Gopalpur and Mohana.
Therefore the Modi-wave blessing as a constant factor for 2019, the BJP’s natural focus shall be on “expansion” of organization. Other parties which used to criticize the BJP as a party having no organization were therefore baffled by its success in some districts in 2017 rural polls. There are many ways to expand the organisation like co-option of micro-leaders from other parties, admission of new leaders and so on. In fact, the BJP may not choose to import big leaders from other parties due to their local anti-incumbency or tarnished-image factors. However, they may use pressure tactic and divisive designs to weaken their opponents to gain electoral combat advantage.
The BJD, shocked by the loss of its forts in many districts in the last rural polls, has declared to initiate reforms. As a first dose of organizational reform, the party has floated a new “labour- union” wing like other parties. The second reform relates to the change in youth orgnisation. In the bureaucratic front, it has changed the design of CMO and put an IPS officer to the existing team to bridge the weakness of the unit. Recently, the party president and CM Naven Patnaik hinted at re-induction of some drop-out leaders to the BJD. This is a controversial reform which will yield both positive and negative benefits. The BJD got positive response after dropping many senior leaders. Now, when it takes them back, there will be a confusing message to the public. It will upset the stabilized system and create a new set of dissidents. Unless the objective of each re-entry is properly laid down, it will cause harm.
Reform can be beneficial like a by-pass heart surgery or can be harmful like a bull in a China shop. In its journey of 20 years, the BJD has crossed its infancy and growth stages in power. It is time for consolidation of the party and for quality governance output. The scam-slur against some leaders and the development failures like Nagada, warrants reform to clean corrupt elements of party and bureaucracy and to increase the Government delivery efficiency. For an Opposition, the party is the only instrument to reach out to the voters while for a ruling party, there is a Government outlet. There is very less scope of old or new entry at this stage of life of the BJD, except substitution. Can the Ministry be changed to build the image of the party and make it connected with new regions and new leadersIJ Should there be change in role-equation between the CMO, the Secretariat, the DGP and the party-machineryIJ Should the district Collectors and SPs be empowered to deliver services under the monitoring of the Chief Secretary and the DGP, without political expectationsIJ If they perform their duties, votes will be formed in favour of the ruling party. Can the BDOs be monitored by sub-collectors or Tehsildars /PD DRDAs /PDITDAs on few flag ship programmesIJ
Unlike the BJP and the BJD, the INC has a unique challenge in Odisha. It has strong organization in certain areas but lost its presence in many constituencies. Despite the exile from power for 14 years in the State, the party was able to bag 16 Assembly seats in 2014 polls. It lost in small margin in Assembly constituencies, like Bargarh, Rajgangpur,Bonai,Rairakhol,Telkoi,Basta,Soro,Simulia,Basudevpur,Sukinda,Chhendipada,Titlagarh,Kantabanjhi,Khariar,Umarkote,Jharigaon,Nabartangpur,Bhawanipatna,Narla,Baliguda,Boudh,Kendrapada,Brahmagiri,Jatni, Sankhemundi, Brahmapur, Mohana, Gunupur, Rayagada and Malkanagiri. The situation should be encouraging for the party leaders as the voters have supported the party in spite of powerlessness. While the party’s presence is mostly seen in the western and the southern tribal dominated districts, there is fight among the coastal leaders to assume OPCC leadership position. Had the INC focused on its electoral base with segment prioritization, instead of a pan-Odisha approach , the party would have gained substantially in 2017 rural poll, instead of falling to the third position.
The BJP will surely enjoy the Modi-Power in 2019 poll and might even invite the Prime Minister to contest from Odisha for a swing to power. The INC is likely to focus on protection of its base. The BJD will keep all possibilities open to stay in power. Another regional party can only occur in case of a split in the BJD.