India, April 11 -- The passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill has triggered political turbulence within the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, forcing the regional political party to grapple with internal contradictions.

The Bill, passed in the Lok Sabha with 288 votes in favour and 232 against, and in the Rajya Sabha with 128 votes to 95, aims to reform the management of Waqf properties by enhancing transparency and accountability.

However, the BJD's handling of the voting process-marked by a last-minute shift from opposition to allowing MPs to vote per their conscience-has triggered an internal rebellion, a public backlash and questions about the party's ideological coherence and electoral prospects.

Initially, the BJD, under the leaders...