BJD has faced a major setback as it lost control over another block. Dhenkanal Sadar Block Chairperson Rajshri Naik lost in the Anashta no-confidence vote. Seventeen members supported the chairperson, but 44 votes went in favour of Anastha. A few votes were rejected.
Rajshri Naik, who had been backed by BJD and elected as chairperson of the Dhenkanal Sadar block, saw her position crumble after BJD suffered a crushing defeat in the general elections. Since then, the party’s structure has been weakening, with one leader after another leaving BJD to join the BJP. A no-confidence motion was raised against the block chairperson.
The impeachment voting for Rajshri Naik took place today. Sixty-two people, including two MLAs and Dhenkanal MP, participated in the absentee vote. Forty-four votes supported Anastha, while 17 voted against it, and one vote was rejected. Returning Officer Litusmita Mishra announced the results.
Following the defeat in Anastha, Rajshri Naik resigned from the post of block chairperson. Vice Chairman Kalandi Barik will now assume the position of Chairman. All Sarpanch and Samiti members, along with MLAs and MPs from Dhenkanal and Kamakshanagar constituencies, participated in the voting. However, Minister Krishna Chandra Pan remarked that BJD’s control in the state is collapsing, especially after the hunger strike.
Minister Pan further criticized the party, stating, “BJD is falling apart across Odisha, and the public is losing faith in its leaders. In the coming days, BJD’s membership will dwindle. The former Chief Minister’s association cannot hold due to age, while the second-generation leader lacks the qualifications to manage the party. That is why they relied on Pandian. But the people of Odisha have rejected him.”
In response, BJD leader Sudhir Samal said, “People stick with the government, but once the government is gone, few stay with the leader. This is just a normal process.”