By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Sanatan Mahakud, the MLA from Champua in Odisha’s mineral-rich Keonjhar district, was suspended from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on January 15, 2026, for alleged anti-party activities, alongside Patkura MLA Arvind Mohapatra. This followed reports of his growing dissatisfaction with the BJD and public proximity to BJP events, including open criticism of his former party.
Sanatan Mahakud recently made a public statement referring to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi as his “younger brother” (in Odia: “ମୋ ସାନ ଭାଇ” or “san bhai”).
Mahakud explicitly said: “ମୁଖ୍ୟମନ୍ତ୍ରୀ ମୋ ସାନ ଭାଇ” (The Chief Minister is my younger brother). He added context: He has no hope or intention of returning to the BJD ( feels neither sad nor happy after leaving, and will continue working for the people of his area.
He indicated plans to discuss district development (Keonjhar) with CM Majhi, emphasizing cooperation for local progress. This phrasing highlights a close, fraternal-like personal/political bond, likely leveraging their shared home district (Keonjhar) and Majhi’s tribal background (both from mining/tribal-heavy north Odisha).
Framing Majhi as a “younger brother” signals alignment, loyalty, or willingness to collaborate under the current BJP government—especially amid speculation of Mahakud potentially joining BJP or supporting it independently.
Critics might interpret such closeness as risky given Mahakud’s historical allegations in illegal mining/transport links (from the 2010s Shah Commission era, ED/IT actions). They could argue it gives a “free pass” or softens scrutiny in Keonjhar’s mining belt.
As of now, there’s no official confirmation of him joining the BJP, but speculation is rife based on his suspension and local political chatter—multiple sources suggest he and Mohapatra could switch to the BJP “at the right time.” His home district aligns with that of Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi, potentially making him a strategic addition for the ruling BJP to bolster its regional influence.
Whether this potential switch helps or damages the BJP depends on short-term electoral gains versus long-term reputational risks, especially tied to Mahakud’s past allegations in illegal mining:
Potential Damage to BJP:
Tainted Track Record in Illegal Mining: Mahakud has been repeatedly linked to Odisha’s multi-crore illegal iron ore mining scam (probed by the Justice MB Shah Commission from 2010-2013).Allegations include colluding with contractors like Thriveni Earthmovers to control mines, disrupt public hearings, and cause revenue losses exceeding Rs 200 crore annually. In 2015, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided his firms for money laundering tied to illegal mining, freezing assets in related cases. He’s been dubbed Odisha’s “richest MLA” due to wealth amassed during the 2004-2008 mining boom, amid poverty in his district. Opposition (like BJD or Congress) could weaponize this to accuse BJP of hypocrisy on anti-corruption, especially since BJP’s 2024 Odisha win partly rode on governance critiques of BJD’s mining oversight.
Reputational and Legal Risks: Inducting someone with ED scrutiny and “mining mafia” labels might alienate urban voters or anti-corruption advocates, inviting media scrutiny and weakening BJP’s clean-image push nationally. If fresh probes resurface (Odisha’s mining sector remains sensitive), it could embarrass the state government.
Potential Benefits for BJP:
Local Influence and Electoral Boost: Mahakud is a prominent figure in Keonjhar, a key mining hub, where he runs a major transport business.He won Champua as an independent in 2014 before joining BJD in 2019, showing grassroots pull among tribal and mining-dependent voters. Adding him could help BJP consolidate in north Odisha, especially amid BJD’s internal churn (its assembly strength has dipped from 51 to 48 seats in 18 months due to bypoll losses and these suspensions). His open support for BJP programs pre-suspension indicates pre-existing alignment, potentially bringing loyalists and weakening BJD further.
Strategic Timing: With Rajya Sabha elections looming and whispers of a BJD split or new party formation (possibly involving Mohapatra’s father, a BJD founding member), inducting Mahakud could signal BJP’s aggressive expansion in a state it wrested from BJD in 2024. Odisha’s BJP government might leverage his mining sector ties for development narratives in resource-heavy areas.
The BJP government under CM Majhi has maintained a tough stance on mining governance (part of their 2024 campaign against BJD-era lapses), so any perceived leniency would invite opposition attacks, but nothing concrete has emerged on this front from the “brother” comment.
In short, the remark is a classic Odisha political move to build rapport and signal possible future alliances (or defection benefits for BJP in Keonjhar). It doesn’t explicitly or implicitly encourage illegal mining—any such link is speculative/opposition spin based on Mahakud’s past baggage, not the words themselves.
Overall, in a truth-seeking lens, this could be a net help for BJP in the immediate term by padding assembly numbers and local clout in Keonjhar, but it risks long-term damage if his mining baggage becomes a liability in future elections or scandals. BJP has absorbed controversial figures before for tactical wins, but in Odisha’s post-2024 landscape, where they’re building from scratch, the optics matter. If the switch happens, watch for how BJP frames it—perhaps emphasizing his “reform” or local development focus to mitigate downsides.
