The video of Braj Mohan Ram, a Dalit leader from Jharkhand, surfaced on social media before he assumed the post of Odisha’s governor. In it he said he would strengthen the BJP’s presence among Scheduled Castes in the state, a pledge that many see as a breach of the neutral role expected of a governor.
Opposition leaders slammed the remarks. Odisha Congress chief Bhakta Charan Das posted the clip online and warned that a governor must uphold the Constitution, not advance a party’s electoral agenda.
Former chief minister Naveen Patnaik joined the chorus, saying Odia voters can see how eager Ram is to fulfill his "party obligations." He also urged the governor to respect constitutional values after taking oath.
Political analysts note that a governor’s pre‑oath commentary on vote‑boosting is rare and raises questions about the balance between state and central powers. The controversy echoes past accusations of governors interfering in state politics, a tension that has surfaced in Kerala and West Bengal.
Ram will be sworn in as governor in the coming weeks; meanwhile, opposition parties are demanding a formal statement from the central government on the governor’s impartiality before he takes the oath.