BJD slams Odisha governor‑designate's pledge to boost BJP

UPDATE - follow-up to BJD takes strong exception to Odisha Governor-designate's remark: The Biju Janata Dal on Wednesday condemned the remark of newly‑appointed Odisha Governor‑designate Braj Mohan Ram that he would work to strengthen the Bharatiya Janata Party after taking office. Spokesperson Lenin Mohanty said the party was “shocked” by the governor‑to‑news‑agency comment and stressed that the governor must stay above party politics. The BJD added that the statement negates the principle that a governor must remain above party politics. Ram, 68, began his political career in the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 1991 and won Lok Sabha seats in 1996 and 1998. After Bihar was split, he represented the Palamu constituency in Jharkhand. He is not the first Jharkhand leader appointed as Odisha governor; former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das previously held the post and was also labeled a BJP “agent” by the BJD ahead of the 2024 elections. During his tenure, Das faced similar criticism for frequent district visits, which the BJD called partisan behaviour. The BJD’s statement underscores its concern over any perceived partisan bias from a constitutional office holder. ## Context The governor’s role is meant to be neutral, acting as the state’s ceremonial head while keeping distance from party activities. Any suggestion of political alignment can trigger opposition criticism, as seen in this dispute.