Yesterday, a “picnic” at a farmhouse near Deras Dam (on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar) became the hottest topic in Odisha politics.
It was supposed to be a simple New Year get-together. But when more than 50 defeated BJD MLAs gathered in one place without the senior party leadership, it became clear: This was not just about lunch.
Reports are calling it a “Revolt.” Here is the simple truth of what happened inside that farmhouse.
The Gathering: Who Was There?
Imagine a room filled with leaders who used to be powerful Ministers and MLAs but lost in the 2024 elections. Big names like Priti Ranjan Ghadai, Sambit Routray, Rajendra Sahu, Latika Pradhan, and Chandra Sarathi Behera were present. Interestingly, no current or winning MLAs were invited. It was a gathering of the “sidelined” leaders.
The “Secret” Agenda
While they told the media it was just a “friendly feast,” the speeches inside told a different story. For the first time since the election defeat, these leaders openly criticized how the party is running.
- “Youth Power” Demand: Many leaders demanded that the “Old Guard” needs to step back. They want young leaders to take control of the BJD to save it.
- Blaming “Outsiders”: Former MLA Kishor Tarai openly said that giving tickets to outsiders instead of loyal workers is why the party lost.
- A Warning: One leader, Prabhu Jani, even declared, “A new equation among young leaders starts today.”
Why is this a Big Deal?
For 24 years, BJD was famous for its discipline. Whatever Naveen Patnaik said was the final word. No questions asked. But this “Deras Dam Feast” shows that the fear is gone. Defeated leaders are now angry, they are organized, and they are demanding change. They feel ignored by the current party managers.
The Funny Part
When journalists asked former MLA Rajendra Sahu about the meeting, he actually got angry and snapped at them! He said, “We have already lost, nobody can do anything to us now.” His frustration clearly showed that this wasn’t just a happy picnic—it was a meeting of angry leaders venting their pain.
In politics, a “secret feast” is never just about food. It is about checking how many people are on your side. The BJD leadership needs to be careful. If 50 ex-MLAs are unhappy, it’s a crack in the wall that could break the party apart.
