Biju Janata Dal

Biju Janata Dal
ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳ
Chairperson Naveen Patnaik
Parliamentary Chairperson Naveen Patnaik
Lok Sabha leader Bhartruhari Mahtab
Rajya Sabha leader Kalpataru Das
Founded 26 December 1997
Headquarters 6R/3,Unit-6, Forest Park, Bhubaneswar
Student wing Biju Chhatra Janata Dal
Youth wing Yuva Biju Janata Dal
Women's wing Biju Mahila Janata Dal
Peasant's wing Biju Krushak Janata Dal
Ideology Populism
Social liberalism
Social democracy
Political position Centre-left
Colours Deep Green  
ECI Status State Party[1]
Alliance National Democratic Alliance (1998–2009)
Third Front (2009-present)
Seats in Lok Sabha
20 / 545
Seats in Rajya Sabha
7 / 245
Seats in the Legislative Assembly
117 / 147
Election symbol
Website
www.bjdodisha.org.in
Politics of India
Political parties
Elections

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) (Oriya: ବିଜୁ ଜନତା ଦଳ) is a state political party of the Indian state of Odisha led by Naveen Patnaik, son of former state chief minister Biju Patnaik. It was founded on 26 December 1997.[2][3]

History

Naveen Patnaik took over his father Biju Pattnaik's Lok Sabha seat in 1996 as a member of the Janata Dal. In 1997, Patnaik split from Janata Dal over its failure to ally with the BJP, and formed the BJD in December 1997. The BJD has participated in several ruling coalitions with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) both at the Centre and in Odisha. The BJD, however, was one of the main professedly secular parties of the National Democratic Alliance . Much of the popularity and electoral success of the party is credited to Patnaik's image as an incorruptible and 'clean' candidate.

Electoral record

BJD won nine seats in the 1998 general elections and Naveen was named the Minister for Mines. In the 1999 general elections, BJD won 10 seats. The party won a majority of seats in the state legislative assembly in the 2000 and 2004 elections in alliance with BJP. The party won 11 Lok Sabha seats in the 2004 elections.[4] However the BJD parted ways with the BJP for both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections 2009 citing differences in seat sharing. In the Indian General Elections in 2009, BJD won 14 seats and secured strong 108 legislative seats out of 147 seats in assembly election of 2009. Biju Janata Dal won a huge victory in the Indian General Elections in 2014 securing 20 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats and 117 of 147 Legislative Assembly seats of Odisha.

Rule

Naveen Patnaik stepped down as Minister of Mines and left the Lok Sabha after the BJD-BJP victory in the Legislative Assembly Elections in 2000 and became the Chief Minister of Odisha. Naveen Patnaik won second, third and fourth terms as Chief Minister of Odisha in 2004, 2009 and 2014 state elections respectively.

Alliance and break-up

BJD had an alliance with BJP in Odisha and it also supported the NDA in the centre since 1998 till 2009 when Naveen Patnaik decided to break the alliance and go alone in the 2009 general elections. The decision was however referred by BJP as the betrayal of Patnaik.

References

  1. ↑ "List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013". India: Election Commission of India. 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Mishra, Sandeep (2012). "Naveen’s BJD still going strong 15 years on - The Times of India". indiatimes.com. Retrieved 24 January 2013. Fifteen years back on December 26 when the Biju Janata Dal as a new political party was born in Odisha
  3. ↑ "BJD Celebrates its 14th Foundation Day | Odisha News | A Complete Information Portal on Odisha". odisha.360.batoi.com. 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2013. The BJD was formed on December 26, 1997
  4. ↑ "General Elections 2004 - National Summary". Eci.nic.in. 2005-08-30. Retrieved 2012-06-13.

External links