The over hyped no confidence motion is happening today on the house floor. Telugu Desam party and Congress joined hands to bring about this motion which was bound to fail from the very start. It became apparent when within minutes of the planned debate, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders staged a walkout from the house. BJD has 19 MPs in the Lok Sabha as of this moment and their walkout from the house floor sent a clear message to all the parties involved in the debate. BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab led the walkout and spoke to reporters outside the house. He made it clear that the Congress had not done anything useful for Odisha during their rule. He also said that the current NDA government at the centre has not done much for Odisha but this discussion would not be beneficial for the state and hence they would neither support nor oppose the debate.
Mahtab further added, “In the last 14 years, the BJD has witnessed that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for 10 years and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for four years have done injustice with Odisha. And this discussion is not going to help Odisha. So we are not going to participate.”
This statement from the BJD MP which is not an ally of the BJP in the centre and fights elections against the BJP in the state shows how little faith they have in the opposition. Their walkout also shows that given a choice, BJD would prefer BJP in the future rather than joining the ‘united opposition’ or the much hyped ‘Third Front’. Their stance also signifies that they do not want Odisha to suffer because of utterly useless political debates and discussions. By abstaining from voting they have made the task easier for the BJP which was in a strong position anyway. But, BJD’s walkout not only demoralised the opposition in this no confidence motion but also sent a clear signal to the Congress regarding 2019 Elections. BJD has no illusions about the ability, strength, intent of either the united opposition or Congress and that is why it has decided to tacitly support the NDA with the walkout. BJD knows that nothing good can possibly come out of this useless debate and chose to stay with the right side at the right time, a big statement from the ruling party of a big state.