What drove Naveen Patnaik to breaking point

The BJD-BJP split in Orissa was not entirely unexpected. BJD chief Naveen Patnaik was worried about the poll impact of the anti-Christian violence in Kandhamal and was uncomfortable with the activities of Sangh Parivar outfits VHP and Bajrang Dal, and may have decided to break away.

Journalist-turned-BJP leader Chandan Mitra, who tried to persuade Naveen against the breakup till the very end, said it was not a “bombshell”.

He said Naveen was concerned about the anti-Christian violence and had spoken to top BJP leader Advani in December. Advani despatched Mitra to Orissa, after which the Parivar outfits called off their proposed bandh on Christmas Day.

However, Mitra contended this could not have been the cause for the split –  possibly engineered by the Congress – as it never came up during seat-sharing talks.

He said Naveen wanted to halve the BJP’s share of seats to be contested.

While privately BJP leaders admitted the split could benefit the Congress, a statement issued by the party said the “unilateral betrayal” of the people’s mandate by Naveen on the eve of simultaneous Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections presented “a remarkable opportunity” to Orissa to make a new beginning.

In the statement, Mitra and party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “By associating with the CPI(M), the B-team of the Congress, the BJD has abandoned the anti-Congress legacy of the state.”