In a powerful comeback after a political setback, veteran leader Naveen Patnaik was re-elected unopposed as the president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for the ninth consecutive term. The 78-year-old, who has helmed the party since its inception in 1997, remains the unchallenged face of the regional force—even after its electoral stumble in 2024.

At the party’s crucial state council meeting held on Saturday, Patnaik struck a defiant tone, rallying the cadre with a call to fight for "Odisha’s rights" and stand strong against the “false narrative” allegedly propagated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His speech marked the BJD’s first major organisational reset after losing both the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, ending a 24-year-long rule in Odisha.

“Let no one underestimate the BJD’s organisational strength. Our ideals, policies, and the dedication of our workers remain our greatest assets. We will serve Odisha—whether in power or not,” Patnaik asserted.

Despite internal friction over the party’s U-turn on the controversial Waqf Amendment Bill in Parliament, Patnaik appeared to have calmed the waters. His ability to reassert command comes amid growing whispers about VK Pandian’s influence within the party—a charge Patnaik has repeatedly denied.

Senior leader Debashish Samantaray, once openly critical of the party’s shifting stance on the Waqf issue, lent full support, declaring, “Naveen Babu is our only leader. There is no second.” His statement was widely seen as a subtle swipe at those questioning the role of Pandian, the bureaucrat-turned-politician from Tamil Nadu.

Notably, several prominent BJD veterans and Rajya Sabha members, including Sasmit Patra, were absent from the meeting—adding weight to speculation about internal dissent. Some claimed they were not invited.

Still, Patnaik’s new battle cry appears clear: a sharper, more aggressive counter-narrative to BJP’s “Odia Asmita” campaign, which gained traction by portraying the BJD as influenced by “outsiders.” Patnaik is now turning that very theme on its head, emphasizing "Odisha’s Swabhiman" and accusing the Centre of injustice towards the state.

Insiders suggest that the party is gearing up for a renewed fight on social media and ground-level outreach. “We may have lost the seats, but we secured more popular votes than the BJP,” Patnaik reminded, citing BJD’s 40.22% vote share versus BJP’s 40.07%.

Senior leader Arun Kumar Sahoo echoed the sentiment, stating that the BJD is preparing to launch a movement against the Centre’s stepmotherly treatment of Odisha.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Manmohan Samal dismissed BJD’s claims as political rhetoric, saying their campaign was “rooted in ground realities.”

With the 2024 defeat still fresh, the BJD under Naveen Patnaik is clearly preparing for a fierce comeback—armed with experience, renewed messaging, and a sharpened regional focus.