- Six-time Member of Parliament Bhartruhari Mahtab bid adieu to his longstanding affiliation with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and formally embraced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
- Mahtab, scion of former Chief Minister Harekrushna Mahtab, cemented his allegiance to the BJP at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi.
- Mahtab’s tenure in parliament has been punctuated by accolades, including the coveted Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 2017 and the ‘Sansad Ratna’ awards for exceptional parliamentary performance from 2017 to 2020.
- Mahtab’s departure from the BJD comes in the wake of legal entanglements, with charges framed against him by the Special Court for MP/MLAs in connection with an alleged assault on a police officer.
- As Odisha braces for impending Lok Sabha elections, Mahtab’s defection injects fresh dynamics into the electoral calculus, with implications for the incumbent BJD, resurgent Congress, and surging BJP.
In a significant development reshaping Odisha’s political landscape, six-time Member of Parliament Bhartruhari Mahtab bid adieu to his longstanding affiliation with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and formally embraced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mahtab’s transition to the saffron camp was accompanied by the defection of former BJD MP Siddhant Mohapatra and celebrated litterateur Damayanti Besra, marking a notable realignment in the state’s political dynamics.
Mahtab, the scion of Odisha’s esteemed Mahtab family and scion of former Chief Minister Harekrushna Mahtab, cemented his allegiance to the BJP at the party’s headquarters in New Delhi. His departure from the BJD, announced on March 22, had stirred speculations of his impending association with the BJP, a transition now formalized.
With an illustrious parliamentary career spanning six consecutive terms representing the prestigious Cuttack Parliamentary constituency, Mahtab’s political acumen and legislative contributions have earned him widespread acclaim. Notably, he served as the BJD’s floor leader in the Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2019, demonstrating his influential role within the party’s ranks.
Mahtab’s tenure in parliament has been punctuated by accolades, including the coveted Outstanding Parliamentarian Award in 2017 and the ‘Sansad Ratna’ awards for exceptional parliamentary performance from 2017 to 2020. His chairmanship of the Parliament Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles, and Skill Development underscores his substantive contribution to legislative deliberations.
Amid his defection, Mahtab elucidated his decision, citing longstanding grievances with the BJD’s governance and organizational functioning. His disillusionment with the party’s leadership culminated in his resignation, an act he described as a liberating step to alleviate the perceived burdens of discontent.
Mahtab’s departure from the BJD comes in the wake of legal entanglements, with charges framed against him by the Special Court for MP/MLAs in connection with an alleged assault on a police officer. The timing of his resignation amidst legal scrutiny underscores the complex interplay of legal and political factors shaping his decision.
Mahtab’s defection mirrors broader trends of political realignment in Odisha, where the BJP has made significant inroads, attracting prominent figures disillusioned with the BJD’s dominance. Notable among these defections are close relatives of BJD’s organizing secretary PP Das and renowned Odia actor Arindam Roy, signalling a strategic shift in political allegiances within the state.
As Odisha braces for impending Lok Sabha elections, Mahtab’s defection injects fresh dynamics into the electoral calculus, with implications for the incumbent BJD, resurgent Congress, and surging BJP. The evolving political landscape underscores the high stakes of electoral contests in the state, characterized by shifting alliances and strategic maneuvers as parties vie for supremacy in the electoral arena.
(With inputs from agencies)
