Bhubaneswar, Oct. 22: The uncharacteristic dithering that marked Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik's decision to axe health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak post the Sum hospital fire has become a talking point in political circles.
Patnaik, who has dropped as many as 35 ministers during his last three terms without batting an eyelid, withstood Opposition and media pressure for five days after the fire before announcing the decision.
This was despite Nayak - the first minister to be dropped in Patnaik's fourth term - having become a marked man much before the hospital fire that claimed 21 lives.
The Opposition had been gunning for Nayak ever since 19 children died of malnutrition at Nagada village in July-August. The pressure got worse after reports that Daana Majhi, a tribal from Kalahandi, was forced to carry his dead wife on his shoulders hit the headlines. Then came the Japanese encephalitis epidemic that has so far claimed over 60 lives in the tribal-dominated Malkangiri district.
The hospital blaze was, in a way, the last straw. But Patnaik still dithered, announcing the minister's exit only after it became obvious that any further delay would irreparably damage his government's image ahead of the panchayat polls early next year.
Although Biju Janata Dal leaders would not admit it openly, party sources said Patnaik was hesitant to wield the axe because Nayak has been a key member of his coterie that has been fine-tuning the party's electoral strategies and keeping it ahead of rivals.
"Besides, Naveen sees him as more sinned against than sinning. There is a feeling that more than Nayak, it is the bureaucrats who should be held responsible for the Sum blaze," said a party leader.
On the face of it, however, BJD spokesperson P.K. Deb maintained that Patnaik had taken action when he thought the time was right.
"There was no pressure on Patnaik. Nayak resigned on moral grounds after he realised his position had become untenable in the wake of the hospital fire," said Deb. The incident has made it clear that Patnaik, who would earlier easily succumb to Opposition pressure, is weighing the pros and cons before taking a decision.
This could be what helped the food and consumer welfare minister, Sanjay Das Burma, survive after being accused of involvement in the money deposit scam. Even though the Opposition stalled the Assembly for over a week after the CBI interrogated Das Burma's close relatives, Patnaik did not act against him.
The case was similar with law and panchayati raj minister Arun Sahu, who recently drew Opposition flak for his alleged links with tainted government doctor Motilal Gouda who is now in jail. Patnaik refused to succumb to the Opposition's sustained campaign.
The Opposition has, however, continued to target Patnaik's government. The leader of the Opposition, Narasingha Mishra, today gunned for Patnaik's scalp, saying Nayak's exit was not enough.
"I thank Nayak for stepping down on moral grounds. But I want to ask whether the chief minister has any moral responsibility or not. The fire services department comes under the home department, which is headed by the chief minister. He should also step down," said Mishra.
The BJP's Dharmendra Pradhan, also the Union petroleum minister, did not demand Patnaik's resignation but said his government should wake up and make its stand clear on fire safety issues.
Nayak held a rally in his constituency, Mahakalpada, in Kendrapara district and reiterated his faith in Patnaik's leadership. "With the blessings of the chief minister, our party will emerge victorious in the coming panchayat polls," he told an enthusiastic crowd.
