Shops display anti-BMC banners in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has dashed the hopes of many Biju Janata Dal leaders by categorically ruling out the chances of a ministry expansion in the near future. The sense of disappointment has been most acute in the case of Brahmagiri MLA Sanjay Das Burma, who has long cherished the dream of becoming a minister.

Every time there is talk of an expansion or reshuffle, the hopes of the BJD youth wing convenor soar, but they are still far from becoming a reality.

More than Burma, who defeated state Congress working president, Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra to enter the Assembly, his lackeys appear to be frustrated, as they have pinned great hopes on him.

“It’s time he is taken aboard. This will help the people of his constituency,” said one of them.

But the chief minister is unlikely to be moved by such pleas.

Yawn yarns

The recent collectors’ conference at the state secretariat turned out to be a drab affair with the participants looking bored and tired with the tedious lectures and presentations.

Given a choice, most of the collectors, who came to the conference after an exhausting session with the National Human Rights Commission, which held a camp court in the city, would have skipped the event.

Though they turned up in full strength they appeared to have little appetite for the long lectures, which have become routine on such occasions.

Not only the collectors, even some of the ministers attending the conference appeared visibly bored. One hopes that the next time around the government will think of something better to keep the district chiefs focused.

Say away

Scribes attending the news conferences of the Pradesh Congress Committee president, K.P. Singhdeo, usually complain that he lets his juniors do most of the talking on these occasions.

There are others who think that the juniors actually take advantage of the man’s humble and polite nature and try to overshadow him.

Rising graph

The political career of former IPS officer Ashok Sahu, who is at present the vice-president of the state BJP, seems to be on an upswing. After the state unit chief, Jual Oram, he is the most visible face of the party that is trying hard to revive its flagging fortunes in Orissa.

A hardliner, Sahu, for all practical purposes, is the chief spokesperson of the party in the state.

Articulate and media-savvy he seems to have an opinion on any subject under the sun but likes most to dwell on Hindutva-related issues that have kept him in focus for all these years.

Dal disorder

The mid-day meal programme has run into controversy once again with a former minister alleging irregularities in the purchase of dal for the scheme that is managed by the women and child welfare department. Vigilance sleuths have
already conducted raids in face of the party that is trying hard to revive its flagging fortunes in Orissa.

A hardliner, Sahu, for all practical purposes, is the chief spokesperson of the party in the state. Articulate and media-savvy he seems to have an opinion on any subject under the sun but likes most to dwell on Hindutva-related issues that have kept him in focus for all these years.

The man, who contested the last Lok Sabha election unsuccessfully from the riot-ravaged Kandhamal constituency, has further consolidated his position in the party because of his closeness with the RSS. His BJP colleagues are not complaining, as he is not one to throw his weight around.

Grapes of wrath

Apart from Nowrangpur MP Pradeep Majhi, former chief minister Hemanand Biswal was perhaps the only Congressman from Orissa who had the courage to express dissent when the state was given a raw deal in the recent ministry reshuffle by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Biswal, who is the party MP from tribal-dominated Sundergarh, was unequivocal that the rejig during which no one from the state was inducted had hurt the Oriyas. Party insiders, however, said that Biswal's comments were nothing but a reflection of his frustration at not finding a place in the Union cabinet.

“He had big expectations. He is talking this way because his hopes have been dashed,” said one of the state leaders.