What Happened in 2000? The Untold Story of BJD’s Power Struggle–-The year was 2000. Bijoy Mohapatra was the BJD’s “Chanakya”—the man who decided who got a ticket and who didn’t. He was powerful, experienced, and the Chairman of the Political Affairs Committee. But in a shocking twist, the man who distributed tickets to everyone else saw his own ticket cancelled at the very last minute
Bhubaneswar::In the politics of Odisha, there have been figures whose power intimidated even the Chief Minister himself. Today, we will discuss the controversial incident that changed the course of Odisha’s politics forever. Bijoy Mohapatra and Naveen Patnaik—one party, but two distinct paths. The question arises: Was Naveen truly afraid of Bijoy Mohapatra?
The year was 2000. The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had been formed following the demise of Biju Babu. At that time, Bijoy Mohapatra was the party’s most powerful leader, often hailed as the party’s ‘Chanakya.’ He served as the Chairman of the Political Affairs Committee and was responsible for distributing tickets to other leaders. But witness the cruel game of politics: the very man who handed out tickets to others saw his own ticket cancelled at the eleventh hour.
According to political experts, Naveen Patnaik was a novice in politics at the time, whereas Bijoy Mohapatra was experienced and popular. Naveen realized that if Bijoy Mohapatra reached the Assembly, he could become a ‘Super CM.’ Naveen wanted only one power center in the party, and that had to be himself. Naveen felt vulnerable in the face of Bijoy’s personality and organizational skills. Therefore, a major conspiracy was hatched to keep Bijoy away from the party.
It is true that on that day, by expelling Bijoy Mohapatra, Naveen secured his own position; however, Bijoy Mohapatra’s struggle continued for 24 years. This was not merely about obtaining a ticket; it was a strategy to clear enemies from the political path. History bears witness that this single decision by Naveen impacted Bijoy’s political career far more than it established the BJD’s monopoly.