An Election and a Strategy
As the nation prepares for the Vice-Presidential election on September 9, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has announced it will abstain from voting. The decision fits the party’s long-followed “equidistance” approach—keeping equal distance from both the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Congress-backed INDIA bloc. For years, this stance was a signature of BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik’s political style, even when he was in office. Now, as the party operates from the opposition benches in Odisha, it continues to pursue the same strategy of neutrality on national issues.
The BJD’s Decision
Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra confirmed the party’s stand, saying: “Biju Janata Dal has decided to abstain from the Vice-Presidential elections tomorrow. The BJD remains equidistant from both the NDA and INDIA alliances. We are focused on the development and welfare of Odisha and its 4.5 crore people.”
The decision came after a meeting of the BJD’s political affairs committee, chaired by party president Naveen Patnaik. According to insiders, many leaders believed abstention was the most balanced choice. Supporting the NDA nominee risked projecting proximity to the BJP, while backing the INDIA bloc could be seen as aligning with the Congress. Abstaining allows the BJD to reinforce its neutral identity.
The Contest: Reddy vs Radhakrishnan
This Vice-Presidential election will witness a direct contest between Justice (Retd.) B Sudershan Reddy, supported by the INDIA bloc, and CP Radhakrishnan, fielded by the NDA. The outcome is largely expected to follow the numerical strength of the two national alliances in Parliament.
Union Minister SP Singh Baghel has suggested a mock drill ahead of voting to help first-time MPs understand the process and reduce invalid ballots. Constitutionally, the Vice President is chosen by MPs from both Houses through proportional representation with a single transferable vote, cast by secret ballot.
The post has remained vacant since Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on July 21 citing health reasons.
BJD’s Track Record of Equidistance
The BJD’s abstention is consistent with its history of maintaining political neutrality at the national level. In 2018, the party walked out of the Lok Sabha before the no-confidence motion against the Modi government. It refrained from backing the opposition’s presidential nominee in 2022, choosing its own path instead.
At the same time, the BJD has taken issue-based stands—supporting NDA initiatives such as the Triple Talaq Bill in 2019, while opposing moves like the Citizenship Amendment Act. This selective approach has helped it retain flexibility and focus on Odisha’s interests, regardless of who controls Delhi.
Even after losing power in Odisha, the BJD continues to project itself as above national political divides, highlighting its role as a regional voice that does not toe the line of either bloc.
Neutrality as Political Identity
By abstaining from the Vice-Presidential election, the BJD has once again showcased its hallmark strategy of equidistance. For a party no longer in government at the state level, this stance serves both as a political identity marker and as a way to maintain relevance in national debates.
Critics see abstention as indecision, but supporters argue it gives the party bargaining power and independence from Delhi’s rivalries. With Naveen Patnaik still at the helm, though no longer Chief Minister, the BJD’s policy of neutrality continues to shape its political journey in both Odisha and beyond.
(With agency inputs)
