MP Debashish Samantaray Attacks V K Pandian Amid Internal Dissent Over BJD's Split Vote On Waqf Amendment Bill

Bhubaneswar: BJD senior leader and MP Debashish Samantaray on Wednesday launched a veiled attack on former bureaucrat-turned-politician V.K. Pandian, amid internal dissent over the party’s split vote on the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

In a Facebook post, Samantaray criticized recent entrants to the BJD who, he said, lacked understanding of the party’s legacy and Biju Patnaik’s vision. “Some leaders, unfamiliar with Naveen Babu’s secular values and Odisha’s identity, are acting at someone’s behest. They neither belong to the party, nor to Odisha,” he wrote.

He attributed BJD’s 2024 poll setback to the BJP’s focus on “Odia Asmita”, indirectly pointing to the rise of Pandian, a Tamil Nadu-born former IAS officer. “We are from the land of Lord Jagannath. Protecting our identity should be our priority,” he stated.

Samantaray, who abstained from voting, criticized the party’s decision to not issue a whip, despite earlier resolving to oppose the Bill. He blamed Pandian for the party’s U-turn, saying, “Pandian conspired in the entire Waqf episode.”

His remarks came after four BJD Rajya Sabha MPs defended Pandian and criticized Samantaray. Meanwhile, seven young BJD leaders wrote to senior leader Debi Mishra, expressing concern over the vote and calling for disciplinary action against those deviating from party ideology.

Amid the growing rift, Naveen Patnaik met senior leaders and advised restraint. Speculation is rife that disciplinary action may be taken against Rajya Sabha floor leader Sasmit Patra, who was abroad during the vote.