Bhubaneswar: In a dramatic escalation of the internal turmoil within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Barabati-Cuttack MLA Souvic Biswal has launched a scathing attack on party president Naveen Patnaik. Following his suspension from the party for cross-voting in the Rajya Sabha elections, Biswal broke his silence, framing his rebellion not as a political shift, but as a fight for his father’s dignity.
“Expulsion Would Have Made Me Happier”
Reacting to the party’s disciplinary action, Souvic Biswal stated that the “insult” meted out to his father, veteran leader Prabhat Biswal, was the breaking point.
“I cannot tolerate the disrespect shown to my father. If I have to face bullets to protect his honor, I am ready to do so. Whatever I am today, and the opportunity I got to enter the hallowed halls of the Assembly, is solely due to my father’s legacy,” Biswal said emotionally.
He further added that he would have been “happier” if the party had expelled him outright rather than just suspending him.
The ‘Nirmalya’ Incident at Naveen Niwas
Biswal made a sensational claim regarding a meeting at Naveen Niwas, the residence of the former Chief Minister. He revealed that five days after his father was expelled from the BJD, he was summoned to the residence.
“I went there thinking they would discuss my father’s situation. Instead, I was asked to touch ‘Nirmalya’ (the sacred dried rice from Lord Jagannath temple) and pledge my vote for Santrupt Misra. I refused point-blank. I told them that I do not take such decisions on my own; that authority rests solely with my father,” he recounted.
The Rajya Sabha Cross-Voting Fallout
The rebellion comes in the wake of a massive crackdown by the BJD leadership. On Saturday, the party suspended six MLAs for “anti-party activities” and for defying the party whip by cross-voting during the Rajya Sabha elections. Souvic Biswal was among the six prominent names who went against the party line, leading to a major embarrassment for the BJD.
The suspension letter issued by the party cited that these members acted against the interests of the organization, but Biswal’s comments suggest a deeper, more personal rift between the “old guard” families and the current party management.
A Growing Crisis for BJD
The suspension of six MLAs—including a young face like Souvic—signals a growing fracture within the BJD. By placing his loyalty to his father above his loyalty to the party “High Command,” Souvic Biswal has set the stage for a potential political realignment in Cuttack politics.
As the BJD grapples with this internal dissent, the political corridors of Odisha are abuzz with speculation about the future of the other five suspended legislators and whether this “rebellion of the sons” will further weaken the party’s stronghold.
