The Union Government has tabled the Delhi Services bill in the Lok Sabha amid a massive uproar by the Opposition. The contentious bill gives the Lieutenant Governor the final say on the transfer and posting of officials of the Delhi government and will also bolster the Centre's control over the national capital. While several Opposition leaders termed the bill unconstitutional, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has extended its support to the bill in the Rajya Sabha. In addition, it has also backed the central government against the no-confidence motion brought by Opposition parties.
This comes as a big relief for the BJP-led NDA as it will need the support of BJD, YSRCP and other nominated members and Independents in the Rajya Sabha to ensure the passage of the bill to replace the Delhi Services Ordinance. Notably, this is not the first time the Odisha-based political party has extended its support to the ruling BJP on contentious in the Rajya Sabha.
The BJD is the second party after the YSR Congress to announce support to the Centre on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023. Although the BJD officially claims to be maintaining "equidistance" from the BJP as well as Congress, the party has so far skipped all meetings aimed at establishing a third front and has instead been supporting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre in almost all matters since 2019.
The BJD supported Modi govt on following bills in Rajya Sabha
Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019: The BJD had supported the ruling government in the Rajya Sabha in 2019. The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha through a voice vote, with 125 in favour and 61 opposing it and there was one abstention.
UAPA Amendment Bill, 2019: The bill sought to amend the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 to include new provisions dealing with terrorist acts as well as people and groups that encourage or assist terrorism. With BJD supporting the Bill, it was passed in Rajya Sabha with 147 votes in favour and 42 against.
Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019: The bill sought to amend the Right to Information Act, 2005. The amendment allowed the government to change the term of Information Commissioners, as well as determine and carry out salary reductions. The bill was passed in the Upper House with the support of BJD, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (now Bharat Rashtra Samiti) and YSR Congress. The bill got the support of 117 members, while 75 voted against it.
Triple talaq bill, 2019: The bill that makes instant triple talaq a criminal offence, after the contentious legislation was passed by Rajya Sabha following non-aligned BJD extending support. The bill was passed with 99 votes in support and 84 opposing it.
Potential reasons behind bonhomie between BJD and BJP
A natural ally
The two parties were not always rivals to each other. Following the death of his father in 1997 Naveen Patnaik entered electoral politics for the first time, winning the Aska by-election. When the Janata Dal was divided a year later, Patnaik floated his own party and became Union Minister for Steel and Mines in the then Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led BJP government in the Centre. This marked the political start for the new regional party BJD, which continues to rule Odisha till date.
Later in 2000, the BJD and BJP formed a coalition government in Odisha, with Patnaik as Chief Minister. In coalition with the saffron party, Patnaik also went on to contest three Lok Sabha elections in 1998, 1999, and 2004, as well as two assembly elections in 2000 and 2004. As a result, the BJP was regarded as a natural ally of the party.
The terms were severed between the two parties in 2008 when right-wing extremists from Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal wreaked mayhem in Kandhamal by setting hundreds of Christians ablaze following the death of their leader Lakshmananda Saraswati. Following this incident, Patnaik had become the cynosure of criticism for failing to protect the minority community.
Financial Incentives to Odisha
The "unofficial bonhomie between the two parties has always been based on mutual support for each other. The Modi government has helped Odisha by granting financial incentives in the form of additional borrowing permissions. According to reports, the State has received Rs 2,725 crore of additional borrowing permission for the year 2021-22 and 2022-23.
The camaraderie between Patnaik and Modi
It should be mentioned here that there has always been a great camaraderie between Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The relationship between the two parties also holds significance as the BJD has consistently demanded special category status for Odisha, and supporting the BJP on key matters might help the Naveen Patnaik-led party in this regard. The good relations between the two parties are also evident from the fact that the BJD nominated Ashwini Vaishnav (incumbent Union Railway Minister) to the Rajya Sabha at the request of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.
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