Bhaskar Parichha
In India’s political landscape, Biju Jana Dal, or simply BJD, has occupied a prominent place in the past two decades. Although a regional outfit, the BJD has had a strong presence at the national level. Whether it is the third front or even the ruling NDA, the company of BJD has been something to cheer about. Never in the past had any political party from Odisha carried such credence as the BJD has been over the last few years.
Basically a right-of-centre party and adhering to social democracy, the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal has been in power for the last 17 years, winning election after election. If liberalism has been its credo, the popularity of the government is something to be envious of for political parties on the opposite side of the spectrum.
So persistent has been its popularity quotient that an alternative political narrative in Odisha has been difficult to come by. The party’s political point of view has been all-inclusive. BJD-named after the legendary Biju Patnaik – has, in the process, created a niche for itself and the oft-repeated ‘four-and half crore’ Odias.
If Biju Patnaik was once a king maker in Delhi’s power corridors and rubbed shoulder with top national leaders, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has no less sway on the national politics. Supporting a good cause, if it is in the national interest, has been BJD’s avowed belief. The party has worked towards that goal, rather diligently. Besides real-politic, the Biju Janata Dal has worked tirelessly towards the social and cultural development of the people in Odisha. Always closer to the citizenry and their aspirations, it has been able to establish a kind of distinctiveness amid India’s provincial politics.
Political observers would credit this continuity and continual power to BJD’s tolerance, broadmindedness and lenient outlook. Reaching out to the people through well-liked and well thought-out policies and clasping itself to all-round development of the state, the BJD has been a potent political force. If it has firmed itself at the grassroots level, the raison d’être of its connect is transparency, totality and tolerance.3Ts in short.
After the death of Biju Patnaik, when BJD was formed on December 26 twenty winters ago nobody had contemplated of BJD making such inroads and turning itself to such an enormous political entity. Through innumerable policies and programmes -to the extent of overkill – and aimed at every section of the society, BJD has been rewriting the developmental narrative.
The party which has seen so many ups and few downs was part of the NDA for twelve long years. It is only in 2009 that BJD parted way with the BJP in the backdrop of 2007 Kandhmal riots. It is from here that BJD’s secular credentials came to be recognized.
In India’s secular- democratic traditions, BJD’s existence is as venerable as its efforts to stitch a political alternative. It may not have succeeded, but the party has been instrumental to build an alliance with like-minded parties.
With such niceties and the fact that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s ‘personal’ image hasn’t sullied over the years, BJD’s journey has been an amazing one. The numerous awards in recognition of the achievements are testimony to the leader and the government he heads.
To go back, when BJD was formed in 1997, Odisha was passing through a yawning financial crisis. Two years after the party was formed the super cyclone hit the state with frightening loss of lives and property. The economy of the state was devastated beyond repair. To take the state out of this wreckage and putting it back on the track was a monumental challenge. Incredible it may appear, but the efforts made to alleviate the sufferings of the people were infallible and within just 2 years life was back to normal.
One of BJD’s biggest achievements has been its pro-poor policies. Carefully laid down and with the sincerity of touching even the last person on the development ladder, these policies have a constructive impact on the government. From a state notorious for grinding poverty and child – sale, Odisha has moved faster than expected under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik.
Taking one and all on the developmental cruise and with an all-encompassing agenda, the policies of the BJD government in the past seventeen years have paid rich dividends to the party and the populace. From cradle to the burning pyre, the BJD government has been meticulously devising programmes and has been implementing them with all seriousness. Result? The 4 crore odd residents of the state have today an astonishing trust on the party, the government and of course the supremo.
Not only have these policies benefited the poorest of the poor within, other states have taken a leaf out of the various schemes of the Naveen Patnaik government.
If development is BJD’s DNA, it has also succeeded in reinforcing its roots.
(The writer is a senior journalist and currently associated with OdishaLIVE as Consulting Editor. You can share your comment with him at content(@)odisha(dot)live)
