Full Breakdown
Governor-designate’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Strengthening Remark Sparks Political Row in Odisha
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On October 14, 2026, Braj Mohan Ram, the newly appointed Governor of Odisha, told a news agency that after taking charge he would work to “further activate” the BJP’s Scheduled-Caste (Scheduled Caste (SC)) Morcha in the state and help secure more votes for the party. The comment, made before his oath-taking, prompted immediate backlash from opposition parties that questioned the impartiality required of a constitutional office-holder.
Background & Context
Braj Mohan Ram, a 68-year-old former three-term Lok Sabha member from Palamu (Jharkhand), served in the Bihar Legislative Assembly (1991-1995) and was elected to Parliament in 1996, 1998 and 2004. He previously led the BJP’s Dalit Morcha in Jharkhand, describing himself as a “sincere and loyal BJP worker” and thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for his gubernatorial appointment. Ram is the second politician from Jharkhand to be appointed Governor of Odisha in three years, following former Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das, who also faced criticism from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for perceived partisanship.
Official Statements & Responses
- BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty issued a statement condemning Ram’s remarks as “unbecoming of a governor” and asserting that a governor must remain above party politics.
- Congress Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Bhakta Charan Das demanded Ram’s immediate recall, arguing that the constitutional role of a governor is to protect the Constitution, not to advance any party’s electoral interests. He alleged that Ram had previously pledged to boost the BJP’s vote share in Odisha.
Criticism & Opposition
The BJD, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, labeled the governor-designate’s statement a breach of constitutional dignity and warned that it undermined the principle of non-partisanship. Patnaik’s social-media post invoked “Mahaprabhu Shri Jagannath” to pray for impartial service.
Congress officials echoed the BJD’s concerns, with OPCC spokesperson Arabinda Das calling the remarks “extremely unfortunate” and accusing the BJP of systematically bringing constitutional institutions under party control.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We are shocked to hear his response to a news agency, in which he reiterates that he would work toward strengthening the BJP party organisation,” — Lenin Mohanty, BJD spokesperson
- “We condemn, the statement which negates the fact that Governor is above party politics.” — Mr. Mohanty, BJD spokesperson
- “When the BJD’s sole agenda was development of Odisha, the present ‘double-engine’ government’s primary objective is the development of their own party,” — Naveen Patnaik, BJD president
These statements capture the core dissent from the BJD and Congress, as well as Patnaik’s broader critique of the state government’s party-centric agenda.
What’s Next
No formal recall has been announced. The governor-designate is slated to assume office in the coming days, and opposition leaders have indicated they will monitor his conduct for adherence to constitutional norms.