Patnaik’s Women’s Rights Campaign and Tejashwi’s Attack on Bihar Government, Two Opposition Voices, One Message
On Mother’s Day, former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik launched a fortnight-long ‘Women’s Rights Campaign’ that will continue till May 25. Addressing party leaders virtually, Patnaik launched a blistering attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the issue of women’s reservation, accusing the party of “indulging in propaganda” despite having made “no contribution” towards advancing women’s rights. In an apparent swipe at the BJP’s claims on women’s empowerment, Patnaik said “empty vessels make the most noise.” He went further, alleging that women were being reduced to a mere vote bank—a charge that cuts to the heart of the debate over whether political parties truly care about women’s issues or simply see them as a demographic to be mobilized during elections.
Patnaik’s campaign is significant for several reasons. First, it is a rare direct attack from a leader who has often been seen as above the fray of daily political combat. Patnaik, who ruled Odisha for over two decades until his party’s defeat in the 2024 assembly elections, has a reputation for being a technocratic administrator rather than a firebrand politician. His decision to personally lead this campaign suggests that the BJD is looking to carve out a distinct political space on women’s issues, potentially positioning itself as a champion of women’s rights in a political landscape where such claims are often made by all parties but substantiated by few.
Second, the timing of the campaign is notable. With the next general elections still some time away, the BJD seems to be engaging in long-term political positioning. By launching a campaign focused on women’s rights, the party is seeking to build a lasting association with a constituency that has become increasingly politically aware and mobilized. Women’s voter turnout has been rising across India, and in many states, women now vote in higher numbers than men. Political parties that ignore this demographic shift do so at their peril.
Patnaik’s accusation that the BJP has made “no contribution” towards advancing women’s rights is one that echoes beyond Odisha. While the BJP has passed the Women’s Reservation Bill—which reserves one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women—its implementation has been delayed pending census and delimitation exercises. Critics argue that the delay is a way of postponing the actual empowerment of women while claiming credit for the legislation. Patnaik’s “empty vessels” remark captures this frustration: the BJP, he suggests, talks a lot about women’s empowerment but has done little to translate that talk into action.
Patnaik also alleged that women were being reduced to a “vote bank”—a term that implies that political parties see women not as citizens with rights but as a bloc to be appeased with token gestures and promises. This critique is not limited to the BJP; it applies to all political parties that treat women’s issues as a checkbox to be ticked rather than a fundamental commitment to be pursued. However, by directing it at the ruling party, Patnaik is seeking to capitalize on any disillusionment among women voters who feel that the promises made to them have not been kept.
While Patnaik’s campaign was unfolding in Odisha, another opposition leader was making his own political move in Bihar. RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav hit out at the NDA government in Bihar for “not taking action” against a BJP MLA who allegedly assaulted a man after barging into his house. Referring to a viral video, Yadav said the MLA from Muzaffarpur assaulted a person by forcibly entering his house—an act that, if true, would constitute not only an assault but also a violation of the individual’s right to privacy and security.
Yadav also criticized police action against protesting teaching job aspirants in Patna. “While there is no action against the MLA, the police baton-charged teaching job aspirants in the State capital, including women, on Friday. On top of it, over 5,000 protesters have been booked and several arrested,” he said. The contrast Yadav is drawing is stark: on one hand, an MLA who is accused of a serious crime remains untouched; on the other, job aspirants who are exercising their right to protest are met with batons and arrests. For Yadav, this is evidence of a government that protects its own while cracking down on ordinary citizens.
The RJD’s attack on the Bihar government is part of a longer-term strategy to position the party as a defender of the common person against a government that is seen as, if not corrupt, then at least as prioritizing political loyalty over justice. The viral video of the MLA’s alleged assault is a gift to the opposition, providing a concrete example of the kind of impunity that, they argue, characterizes the Nitish Kumar-led government. By highlighting the contrast between the treatment of the MLA and the treatment of the protesters, Yadav is seeking to mobilize public opinion against the government and to position the RJD as the party that will hold the powerful accountable.
Taken together, the BJD’s campaign on women’s rights and the RJD’s attack on the Bihar government over the MLA assault are two different expressions of the same opposition strategy: to highlight the gap between the ruling parties’ rhetoric and their actions, and to position themselves as the true champions of the common citizen. Patnaik focuses on a structural issue—women’s reservation and empowerment—while Yadav focuses on a specific incident that can be used to symbolize a broader pattern of impunity. Both are seeking to build political capital by appealing to voters who feel that the current governments are not serving their interests.
The effectiveness of these strategies will depend on several factors. For Patnaik, the challenge will be to convert his campaign into tangible political gains. Launching a campaign on women’s rights is one thing; demonstrating that the BJD would actually prioritize women’s issues if given the opportunity is another. The party will need to flesh out its policies on women’s safety, economic empowerment, and political representation, and to show that it has a track record of delivery. Patnaik’s long tenure as Chief Minister provides ample material for such an exercise, but it also exposes him to scrutiny: what did he achieve for women’s rights during his 24 years in power?
For Yadav, the challenge is to keep the issue alive without allowing it to be drowned out by other news cycles. The MLA assault is a specific incident, and its political potency may fade over time unless the opposition can link it to a broader narrative about the government’s record. Yadav’s reference to the police action against job aspirants is an attempt to do just that: to show that the government’s heavy-handedness is not limited to one case but is a pattern of behavior. The RJD will also need to ensure that its own record on women’s safety and justice is beyond reproach, as any failure on its part would undermine its credibility as a critic.
As the political season heats up ahead of upcoming elections, voters will be watching the actions of both ruling parties and opposition contenders. Patnaik’s ‘Women’s Rights Campaign’ and Tejashwi Yadav’s attack on the Bihar government are early shots in what promises to be a long and hard-fought political battle. Whether they will be remembered as turning points or as mere footnotes will depend on the responses they generate—from the ruling parties, from the media, and, ultimately, from the voters.
Questions and Answers
Q1: What did Naveen Patnaik accuse the BJP of regarding women’s rights?
A1: Patnaik accused the BJP of “indulging in propaganda” while having made “no contribution” towards advancing women’s rights. He also alleged that women were being reduced to a mere vote bank and, in an apparent swipe at the BJP’s claims, said “empty vessels make the most noise.”
Q2: Why did Patnaik launch the ‘Women’s Rights Campaign’ on Mother’s Day, and how long will it last?
A2: Patnaik launched the fortnight-long campaign on Mother’s Day to highlight the BJP’s failure on women’s issues. The campaign began on Mother’s Day and will continue until May 25.
Q3: What incident did Tejashwi Yadav cite to attack the Bihar government?
A3: Yadav cited a viral video showing a BJP MLA from Muzaffarpur allegedly assaulting a man after forcibly entering his house. He questioned why no action had been taken against the MLA while teaching job aspirants protesting in Patna were baton-charged, with over 5,000 protesters booked and several arrested.
Q4: What contrast did Tejashwi Yadav draw between the treatment of the MLA and the protestors?
A4: Yadav highlighted the stark contrast: the MLA who allegedly committed a serious crime remains untouched, while job aspirants exercising their right to protest were met with police batons, arrests, and criminal charges. This, he argued, shows a government that protects its own while cracking down on ordinary citizens.
Q5: What challenges do both opposition leaders face in sustaining their political messaging?
A5: Patnaik must demonstrate that the BJD would actually prioritize women’s issues in government, not just campaign on them. His 24-year tenure as Chief Minister invites scrutiny of his own record on women’s rights. Yadav must keep the MLA assault issue alive and link it to a broader narrative about government impunity, while also ensuring the RJD’s own record is beyond reproach.
