BJD distances itself from Congress after withdrawing support for Odisha Bandh
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has issued a clarification asserting its equidistance from both the BJP and Congress after briefly appearing to support an INDIA bloc-led bandh. The party maintains it acts independently based on the interests of Odisha.
Why it matters
This highlights the shifting political alliances and the strategic positioning of regional parties in the context of national political blocs.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday (October 7, 2026), for the second consecutive day, issued a clarification asserting that the regional party maintained equidistance from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.
The BJD found itself in a sticky wicket after Opposition Chief Whip Pramila Mallik said on Wednesday that, as part of the INDIA bloc, the party supported the ‘Odisha Bandh’ called by INDIA bloc parties for Thursday (October 8, 2026). Within an hour, however, she backtracked, saying the BJD was not part of any alliance and, therefore, did not support the proposed bandh.
The regional party had issued a similar clarification on Tuesday (October 6, 2026) after its Rajya Sabha MPs participated in a protest march organised by INDIA bloc parties in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
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