Naveen Patnaik once kept distance from BJP and Congress. Why that changed

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) under Naveen Patnaik has recently shifted its stance, joining the opposition's protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This move comes after the BJD’s long-standing policy of maintaining a neutral distance from both the ruling BJP and the Congress-led opposition.

Patnaik, who had previously demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the re-examination of the SIR process, has declared that the BJD will participate in the protest as a responsible opposition party. The decision to join the INDIA bloc’s protest was reportedly motivated by the public mood on the issue, as the BJD seeks to regain its relevance following its defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

The INDIA bloc's leader Derek O'Brien praised Patnaik's decision, noting that the party is moving in response to the growing public dissatisfaction with the ECI and its handling of the SIR exercise.