Following the BJD’s poor performance in the recent simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, party president and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is intensifying his efforts to counter the ruling BJP government led by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.

On Wednesday, Patnaik, now the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state Assembly, assigned various departments to his 50 party MLAs. This formation of a “shadow cabinet” is aimed at closely scrutinizing the BJP government’s functioning and raising pertinent issues in the Assembly.

“The Opposition party is the custodian of people’s interests. The Opposition has a significant role to play in the state Assembly. The MLAs will keep a close watch on the activities of departments assigned to them and actively participate during discussions of those departments in the state Assembly. They will work to protect the interests of the people,” a statement from the BJD quoted Patnaik.

BJD sources explained that the move aims to strengthen the party as a formidable Opposition and effectively counter the BJP government on various issues.

Patnaik’s initiative comes just a week before the first Assembly session after the formation of the BJP government in the state. The budget session, scheduled to start on July 22 and continue until September 13 in two phases, will be crucial for the BJD to assert its role as the Opposition.

Patnaik’s actions signal his continued active involvement in Odisha politics and the BJD’s intent to take an aggressive stance against the BJP government in the Assembly. This will be the first time BJD members occupy the Opposition benches since the party first contested an Assembly election in 2000.

A senior BJD leader remarked, “Those who thought that BJD will no longer be relevant in Odisha politics should take note of our activities, including the recent shadow cabinet. People of Odisha have given a mandate to the BJP, and we respect that. If we feel that the interests of Odisha are harmed in any way, we will take on the government as a responsible Opposition party inside and outside the Assembly.”

Senior BJD MLAs, many of whom have handled various departments as cabinet ministers, have been allotted crucial departments. Former finance minister Prasanna Acharya, now the deputy leader of Opposition, will scrutinize the finance department. Deputy chief whip Pratap Keshari Deb, also a former minister, will monitor the general administration (GA) department. Former Speaker and minister Niranjan Pujari will ‘shadow’ the home department, both critical as CM Manjhi handles these portfolios.

The BJD’s chief whip, Pramila Mallik, who managed multiple departments in Patnaik’s previous government, will oversee the panchayati raj and drinking water department.

Patnaik’s move is also intended to enable the BJD’s young and first-time MLAs to gain expertise on various issues and ensure their active participation in Assembly proceedings.

However, some BJD leaders who are “unhappy” with the party for not introspecting on the recent poll results called the move a “survival tactic” and a “corporate way of functioning.”

“The party is doing these activities to keep the flock together amid speculations that it may disintegrate into various groups. The BJD leadership has to show that it is actively trying to bounce back. But why is the party not taking any action against those responsible for the defeat in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls?” asked a leader.

In the elections to the 147-member Assembly, the BJP won 78 seats against the BJD’s 51. In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP secured 20 out of 21 seats in the state, with the Congress winning the remaining seat, leaving the BJD with none.