Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra on Sunday boycotted governor S.C. Jamir's at-home party protesting "total mismanagement" during the swearing-in ceremony. Protocol demands a front-row seat for leader of the Opposition, who enjoys a cabinet rank. But seating arrangements gave Mishra a fourth row seat with cabinet ministers, ministers of state, MPs and MLAs sitting in rows ahead of him. In the chaos, Mishra was even pushed and elbowed by a reporter.

Intra-party feuds

The intra-party conflict within BJD was apparent at Sunday's swearing-in ceremony. None of the ministers, who resigned were present at the ceremony. However, other ministers downplayed the issue saying they were busy with party work.

Women not any

Though Naveen Patnaik talks of women empowerment, no woman was included in the ministry rejig. Sources revealed that Sambalpur MLA Raseswari Devi was almost certain of getting a berth, but she did not get the phone call till the last moment. Former minister Pramilla Mallick also did not get a call. At present, Naveen's cabinet has two women ministers - Usha Devi and Snehangini Chhuria.

Left out

In the rejig, almost all backward districts have been ignored. There is no representation from Malkangiri, Rayagada, Koraput, Balangir, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Boudh, Kandhamal, Sundargarh and Mayurbhanj. BJD leaders argued that it was not possible to give representation all 30 districts in the ministry.

Happy Ananta

Newly inducted minister Ananta Narayan Das is a happy man. For the last 17 years, it was Raghunath Mohanty who had overshadowed him in the BJD in Balasore district. But ever since Mohanty's downfall started following a family feud, Das has been making a serious effort to usurp the space.

Crop loans

With the change of portfolios, the farmers' hope for loan waiver has vanished. It was Pradeep Maharathy who had raised the issue and embarrassed the Naveen Patnaik government. But with pragmatic Damodar Rout replacing Maharathy, the possibility of a loan waiver seems to be a distant dream. Rout also does not believe that farmers committed suicide because of crop failure.

Sundargarh rebels

Leaders in BJD's Sundargarh unit have threatened to quit en masse protesting against non-representation of the district in the ministry. The leaders said in the absence of a minister, the district's development would take a beating and the party would also be weakened. Senior BJD leader Mangala Kishan said he would try to diffuse tension among leaders.