BJP draws flak for December 21 ‘Bhubaneswar Bandh’ Call

While the Congress Party has been on a back foot in Odisha, owing to the series of developments within and outside in the run up to panchayat polls in the state, the BJP was inching closer towards the goal of replacing it as the main Opposition party. However, it’s difficult to say whether the party is weighing its moves carefully and moving on the right track or not.

Over the years, BJD has established itself as a people’s party, while Congress failed to strike the chord with the people again. Majoity in Odisha are reluctant to trust the Congress again for different reasons. There is a big vaccum in the political space of Odisha, which is completely dominated by the BJD. But, of late, BJP has been trying to make a dent into that space.

However, any anti-people measures may put the BJP on back foot. The recent call for Bhubaneswar Bandh on December 21, has not gone well with common people. People cutting across party lines and apolitical people are not supporting this move. They believe a 12-hour bandh call in the capital city, will cause more inconvenience to the common people and won’t help BJP’s cause either.

Senior BJP leaders in Odisha seems to have failed to gauge the public mood. Any demonstration, dharna or hartal, seeking the resignation of BMC Mayor, may give them adequate mileage as well as strength. But, the bandh call may backfire and put them in a fix. Hope good sense prevails!