Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Captain Dibya Shankar Mishra issued a clarification on Thursday, allegedly taking a U-turn after his statement on party leadership sparked strong reactions within the party.
Also Read: Leadership row rekindles tension within BJD after Dibya Shankar backs Kalikesh
Addressing a press conference, Mishra said his comments in support of Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo were misunderstood and misrepresented.
Mishra explained that he had only described Kalikesh as an example of emerging youth leadership. He said that during a football tournament in Bolangir, he had remarked that the younger generation could look up to Kalikesh as a role model.
However, the Junagarh BJD leader categorically stated that Naveen Patnaik is the only and supreme leader of Biju Janata Dal.
“All MLAs and party leaders are working under the guidance of Naveen Patnaik,” Mishra asserted, alleging that certain sections of the media had given a different colour to his statement.
Earlier, Mishra had said that Kalikesh was fit for state leadership based on his capability and competence. Following sharp opposition and criticism within the party over that remark, political circles believe the clarification came as damage control to quell internal dissent.
“Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo is a dynamic leader. He does not lack any quality to take leadership in the State politics,” Dibya Shankar had said.
However, the statement had not gone down well with several senior BJD leaders. Veteran MLAs Arun Kumar Sahoo and Ganeswar Behera strongly objected, asserting that all elected representatives in the party are equally capable of providing leadership.
They questioned the relevance of ongoing succession discussions when the party president, Naveen Patnaik, continues to lead the organisation.
The controversy has further intensified amid speculation over internal group dynamics within the party. The recent appearance of senior leader Ananga Udaya Singh Deo at Naveen Nivas, followed closely by Dibya Shankar’s remarks, has added fuel to political conjecture. Observers are now questioning whether the statement was a personal opinion or part of a calculated move by a particular faction.
Dibya Shankar’s remarks have effectively revived the long-dormant succession debate in BJD, with some political circles also linking it to attempts at countering the rising prominence of Sujata Karthikeyan. As discussions grow louder, the party finds itself once again at the centre of speculation over its future leadership direction.
