Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) took a U-turn on its decision to support the Odisha bandh called by the Congress for October 8, drawing sharp criticism from the BJP.

The confusion over the BJD's position emerged after senior party leader Pramila Mallik initially said that the party would participate in the bandh. Speaking after a meeting at Naveen Niwas, Mallik said the BJD would join the shutdown as the party had participated in the Opposition rally in Delhi a day earlier.

However, within a few minutes, Mallik changed her stand and said that the BJD would not support the Odisha bandh. She clarified that the BJD believes in maintaining equal distance from both the BJP and the Congress.

The sudden change in the party's position gave the BJP an opportunity to target the BJD.

Senior BJP leader Surath Biswal said that senior BJD leaders were not willing to go along with the Congress, resulting in confusion within the regional party.

He described the BJD as an "opportunistic party" and claimed that it was unable to take a clear decision on the bandh. Biswal also questioned who was currently taking key decisions in the BJD and who was leading the party.

The development comes a day after the BJD joined an Opposition protest in Delhi over issues related to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

The Congress has appealed to Opposition parties and people across Odisha to support the October 8 bandh.