Odisha, which was once appreciated for its rapid development under the BJD government, is now facing a crisis reminiscent of the upheaval seen in the political history of Bangladesh. The newly formed BJP -led government has been accused of systematically abolishing the achievements of the previous government, adopting dictatorship strategy and misusing the power of the police to suppress disagreement. Some of the recent incidents have exposed this dangerous trajectory, which has increased concerns about the state’s democratic fabric.
Erasing 24 Years of Development
TIn Odisha, the BJP government has launched a campaign to eradicate the heritage of the previous BJD government, which ruled the state for 24 years. One of the most frightening strategy is to paint government projects and public buses with saffron color, which effectively eradicates any visual representation of the development contribution of BJD.
In addition, the BJP has continued many welfare schemes launched by the previous government, but has rebranded them with new names to take credit. This strategy reflects the political strategy adopted in Bangladesh, where the ruling parties often try to strengthen the story of their governance by eradicating the achievements of their predecessors.
Biju Pattnaik’s Statue Vandalism: An Attack on Legacies
Symbolic attacks have become a weapon in the BJP’s political arsenal. In a shocking incident, the statue of Biju Patnaik, a respected leader in the history of the state and producer of modern Odisha, was broken. Such attacks work to eradicate historical heritage and promote political polarization, a strategy that reminds me of the upheaval in Bangladesh in the past.
Authoritarian Use of Police Power
The BJP government in Odisha and its counterpart in Chhattisgarh have been accused of using the police force to suppress the voice of the opposition. A vivid example of this is a case related to former MLA Deepali Das and elected members who were arrested after passing a no -confidence motion against the BJP -backed block president. The police force of the state working under political instructions arrested these elected representatives along with Bishal Das, which is being compared to the oppression of Bangladesh’s military style dissatisfaction.
Crackdown on Opposition: Congress MLAs Suspended
During a crucial session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, 14 Congress MLAs were suspended while raising concerns about women’s safety in the state. The crackdown did not stop there—when Congress workers gathered in Bhubaneswar to protest, police forces were deployed to violently disperse them. This blatant use of force to silence opposition mirrors the authoritarianism seen in Bangladesh, where opposition voices are often subdued through intimidation and police action.
BJP’s Political Strategy: Dividing the Youth
During an important session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, 14 Congress MLAs were suspended for expressing concern about the safety of women in the state. Daman did not stop here- When Congress workers gathered to protest in Bhubaneswar, police force was deployed to disperse them in a violent manner. This tremendous use of force to silence the opposition reflects the dictatorship seen in Bangladesh, where the voices of the opposition are often suppressed through threats and police action.
Conclusion: A Worrying Trend
The political crisis of Odisha, which includes systematically eradicating previous events, using police for political suppression and action on opposition, is completely similar to the ruling changes seen in Bangladesh. Democratic institutions of the state are in danger and if this trend continues, Odisha can become an example of how the progressive region once drowned in political chaos under the rule inspired by integration of power. It is important for the civil society, opposition and the people of Odisha to oppose these ruling moves and protect the democratic values that the state has maintained for a long time.