Bhubaneswar, Oct. 22: The uncharacteristic dithering that marked chief minister Naveen Patnaik's decision to axe health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, the first to be dropped from the ministry in his fourth term, has become a talking point in the state's political circles.

Naveen, who, during his last three terms dropped as many 35 as ministers on various grounds without batting an eyelid, withstood opposition and media pressure for five days in the wake of the disastrous Sum hospital fire that has claimed 21 lives, before announcing the resignation of Nayak.

This, despite the fact that Nayak had become a marked man much before the hospital fire with the Opposition gunning for him ever since 19 children died of malnutrition at Nagada village in July-August leading to a state-wide future. His troubles mounted with the news of Daana Majhi, a tribal from Kalahandi, being forced to carry his dead wife on his shoulders, grabbing national and international headlines. This was followed by the Japanese encephalitis epidemic that has claimed more than 60 lives in the tribal-dominated Malkangiri district so far.

The hospital blaze was, in a way, the last straw. But the chief minister still dithered before taking action against the young minister and announced his exit from the ministry only after it became obvious that any more delay would cause irreparable damage to his government's image, something he could not afford with panchayat polls due early next year.

Though the BJD leaders are reluctant to admit it openly, sources in the party said the chief minister's hesitation in acting against Nayak was on account of the fact that the 49-year-old minister, perceived to be an able organiser, has been a key member of his inner coterie that has been fine-tuning the BJD's electoral strategies and has constantly kept it ahead of its rivals.

"Besides, Naveen sees him as more sinned against than sinning. There is a feeling in the party that more than the minister, the bureaucrats 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 the chief minister acted against Nayak when he thought that the time was right.

"There was no pressure on Naveen. Nayak resigned on moral grounds after he realised that his position had become untenable in the wake of the hospital fire," said Deb.

The episode has also made it clear that unlike in the past, when Naveen used to succumb to Opposition pressure rather easily, he is now acting in a more mature fashion weighing the pros and cons of his decisions.

It was this that helped 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 more than a week after the CBI interrogated Das Burma's close relatives in connection with the scam, the chief minister did not act against him.

The case was similar with law and panchayat raj minister Arun Sahu, who drew flak from the Opposition for the Nabakalabara fiasco last year and then, more recently, for his alleged links with tainted government doctor Motilal Gouda, who is now in jail. Naveen refused to succumb to the Opposition's sustained campaign on the issue.

However, all this notwithstanding, the Opposition continues to target the government. Leader of the Opposition Narasingha Mishra today demanded the chief minister's resignation saying the exit of Nayak from the ministry 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.

Though Union petroleum and natural gas minister Dharmedra Pradhan did not directly demand the resignation of the chief minister, he taunted Naveen saying that his government should wake up and make its stand clear on fire safety issues.

Nayak, who lives to fight another day, held a show of strength rally in his constituency, Mahakalpada, in Kendrapara district. He addressed his supporters and reiterated his unflinching faith in the leadership of Naveen. "With the blessings of the chief minister, our party will emerge victorious in the coming panchayat polls," he told an enthusiastic crowd.