"No infighting": BJD's Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak amid row over stance on Waqf Bill

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], April 9 : Amid growing differences within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) over the party's stand on the Waqf Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha, BJD leader Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said that there is no infighting at all and MPs, MLAs and workers are united.
The Waqf Amendment Bill was later passed by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in the budget session of Parliament and has now become a law.
"There is no infighting at all. We all are working under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik. There is no question of division. All MPs, MLAs and workers are united. We always abide by the direction of our leader Naveen Patnaik. We are always secular. In the past it has been maintained by BJD and in the future also, we will continue with this stand," Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak told ANI.
BJD leader Bhupinder Singh said that there is no groupism in the party.
"There is no groupism in the party...Naveen Patnaik is the only leader and an outsider can not lead the party. The party won't tolerate that...," he told ANI.
Meanwhile, BJD leader Shashi Bhushan Behera said a meeting was held in Bhubaneswar to discuss various party issues.
BJD leader Shashi Bhushan Behera said, "The leaders of BJD had a meeting here today. The people of Odisha still believe that Naveen Patnaik is the most prominent leader. The public is standing in support of him. He is very well aware of this meeting. All the leaders of BJD are standing with Naveen Patnaik. There is no groupism in the party."
Earlier, BJP MP Sujeet Kumar questioned BJD's approach towards the Waqf (Amendment) Act and stated that they are 'confused. ' He said that one MP, Sasmit Patra, supported the bill, whereas Muzibulla Khan opposed it. Kumar added that one BJD MP was absent during the voting on the Waqf Amendment Bill.
"BJD is totally confused. One MP, Sasmit Patra, supported the bill, whereas another, Muzibulla Khan, opposed it. One MP, Debashish Samantaray, was absent. BJD is doing drama. What did the other four MPs do? They supported the bill and opposed it. Please come to the public and clarify themselves", he added.
President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed by Parliament during the budget session of Parliament.
The Rajya Sabha passed the bill on Friday with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, while the Loka Sabha cleared the bill after a lengthy debate, with 288 members voting in favour and 232 opposing it.