Bhubaneswar, Dec. 23 -- Once considered the unshakeable stronghold of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the Ganjam district is today witnessing an uneasy phase marked by leadership gaps, organisational drift and visible uncertainty at the grassroots.

The party, which had dominated all 13 Assembly segments in the district for years, was reduced to a single seat in the 2024 elections, with party president Naveen Patnaik retaining only his Hinjili constituency.

More than a year after losing power in the state, the party is yet to restore political momentum in the district that formed the backbone of its electoral success for over two decades.

In interactions with OTV, local leaders admit that the absence of regular engagement from the top leader...