A day after the BJD suspended MLAs Arvind Mohapatra and Sanatan Mahakud, senior party leader Elina Dash publicly questioned the move, warning that it reflects a worrying decline in the party’s strength. She pointed out that the party’s numbers have steadily fallen from 51 to 50 and now to 48, calling it a clear sign of deeper trouble within the organisation.

In a strongly worded Facebook post, Elina criticised what she described as a culture of “servitude”, alleging that grassroots workers across Odisha are struggling because of it. Without naming VK Pandian directly, she cautioned that if MLAs continue to function in isolation instead of standing united, they may eventually discover their political fate only through press statements and media reports.

Calling for unity, Elina said there is still time to course-correct and asserted that Lord Jagannath remains the party’s guiding hope. She also took an indirect swipe at Bobby Das, warning that continued infighting would only widen internal rifts and lead to more expulsions from the party.

The internal disquiet was further amplified by expelled BJD leader Srimayee Mishra, who posted a cryptic message on social media. Using an analogy, she suggested that unquestioningly endorsing wrong decisions invites ridicule, a remark widely interpreted as an indirect criticism of VK Pandian and the leadership style within the party.

Elina Dash’s remarks have intensified speculation about growing factionalism inside the BJD, with sources suggesting an alleged attempt by a pro-Pandian group to consolidate influence. While her comments underline internal dissatisfaction, they also carry an appeal to protect party unity. The BJD has so far not issued any official response to the statements made by the two leaders.