Bhubaneswar: A major controversy has erupted over conscience voting by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha members on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 as this was in stark contrast to the party’s earlier decision of opposing the bill. Many senior party leaders have expressed surprise and even resentment over the development which has embarrassed the party by denting its secular credentials.
While leaders like former minister Badri Patra questioned why no whip was issued for voting on the bill, thus creating scope for conscience voting, former BJD MLA Pravat Tripathy targeted IAS-turned-politician VK Pandian, hinting that such a thing could not have happened without his consent. He alleged that some BJD MPs voted in favour of Waqf Bill at the instance of Pandian who served as BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik’s private secretary when he was the chief minister of the state.
Conscience voting issue took the centrestage after BJD Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra in a post on X said , “The Biju Janata Dal has always upheld the principles of secularism and inclusivity, ensuring the rights of all communities. We deeply respect the diverse sentiments expressed by different sections of the Minority communities regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024.”
The MP went on to add, “Our Party, having taken these views into careful consideration, has entrusted our Hon’ble Members in the Rajya Sabha with the responsibility of exercising their conscience in the best interest of justice, harmony and the rights of all communities, should the Bill come up for voting. There is no Party Whip.”
The post surprised and anguished senior BJD leaders who were aware of the party’s earlier decision to oppose the Waqf ( Amendment) Bill. Many rushed to Naveen Nivas, the residence of party supremo and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik here to express their displeasure. While Patnaik, who outwardly continues to maintain the policy of equidistance from Congress and BJP, is yet to make a statement on the issue, former minister Badri Narayan Patra smelt a conspiracy behind the development. “ There is some game going on behind it. But this is not good for the party,” he said, hoping that action would be taken against anyone who has gone against the secular principles of the party. He also questioned the absence of a whip by the party ahead of voting on the bill in the Rajya Sabha.
Sources within the party said that while Patra voted in favour of the bill Muzibulla Khan, popularly known as Munna Khan, voted against it and Debasis Samantaray abstained from voting.
While Kendrapara MLA Ganeshwar Behera questioned the role of Patra and wondered if his decision to vote according to his conscience was also the decision of the party, veteran leader Prafulla Samal shot off a letter to Naveen Patnaik seeking a review of the development which can have serious repercussions for the party which has already lost two of its Rajya Sabha members to the BJP.
Former minister Pratap Jena, too, felt there was a conspiracy behind the sudden change of stand by BJD MPs on the Bill. In a letter to Patnaik he said there was a need to closely examine the X post of Patra.
Pravat Tripathy told a private news channel that things have not been moving in the right direction for the BJD since its defeat at the hands of the BJP in the last election. Referring to the Waqf Bill voting he said, ” I wonder if Sasmit Patra could have taken such a step without the knowledge and support of Pandian.” He also went on to say that Pandian made no contribution to the BJD. ” He was a government servant and taking money from the government. What is his contribution to the party?” he asked.
The conscience voting fracas has added to the already existing confusion within BJD which now has 51 MLAs in the state assembly but is still struggling to play the role of main opposition effectively. The regional party has, so far, failed to build up public movements on crucial issues. Even within the assembly it appears to be playing second fiddle to the Congress all of whose 14 MLAs were recently suspended from the legislature for causing a ruckus over their demand for the formation of a committee to examine cases of atrocities against women.
The BJD’s poor performance in the state assembly and its perceived reluctance to take on the BJP has raised question marks over its secular credentials. Many people were surprised when BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik skipped the DMK-sponsored anti-delimitation meet at Chennai on March 22 after promising to attend the conclave. Instead he sent two senior BJD leaders to Chennai as his representatives.
Patnaik’s policy of equidistance from BJP and Congress has been criticised in the past as well with the former chief minister’s party backing the BJP-led NDA several times in the parliament during his 24-year rule in Odisha. It extended support to the NDA on highly controversial issues like scrapping of article 370 and the Citizenship Amendment Act which earned him the wrath of Muslim leaders. Now the conscience voting episode has made things further difficult for the party.
