It is believed that you had a long cherished dream of becoming a minister and your hopes were dashed when chief minister Naveen Patnaik did not induct you during the cabinet reshuffle in May. Did you feel disappointed about being sidelined?

Inducting a minister is completely the chief minister’s prerogative. Although there were discussions in political circles about me as a probable minister, I was never really in that race. I am a first time MLA. My only focus is to work for the growth and development of the people of my constituency (Brahmagiri).

But were you not disappointed?

As I told you, I was never in the race for becoming a minister so there was no disappointment. Due to Naveen Patnaik’s blessings, I have got enough opportunities within the party. When I had lost the Assembly elections, I was made the chairman of the housing board committee. Later, I was given a party ticket from a crucial constituency like Brahmagiri.

You are known to be very close to party’s second-in-command, Pyari Mohan Mohapatra. The other young leaders are also being sidelined. Would you say you have got the opportunities due to this proximity with Pyari or because of Naveen’s blessings?

I am the only member in BJD who enjoys the confidence of both leaders. Both Pyari babu and Naveen babu have given me enough freedom to make my own decisions but I always keep them informed.

What would you say about the perception that you always act on the advice of Pyari?

Not true. I always consult him and there’s nothing wrong in it. His administrative experience and versatile style of functioning has strengthened the party.

If that is not true, why didn’t you invite senior BJD leader Damodar Rout to the conclave of the state working committee? Isn’t it because Rout has had too many verbal spats with Pyari in the past?

Since this was an extended working committee meeting, we had invited selected leaders.

What is your view on Rout’s and sacked MLA Debasis Nayak’s comments that Naveen executes decisions taken by Pyari?

There are certain things that should be discussed within the party. I have never believed in crossing the line and talking too much. No party can prosper if there is indiscipline.

But there are too many signs of growing indiscipline within the party. There is infighting among leaders and the party has been divided into factions. How do you see your party growing amidst such indiscipline and groupism?

Indiscipline has been marked at certain points. I don’t disagree with that. But it has not affected the unity of our party members. There is no groupsim; Naveen Patnaik is the only leader of the party. Whatever issues have cropped up are being sorted out through discussions.

Scams after scams are being uncovered which has put BJD in a very sticky situation. During his recent visit to the state, Rahul Gandhi also said BJD government is the most corrupt.

The UPA government is itself sitting on a mountain of corruption. In Orissa, all scams have been exposed by BJD leaders. Naveen babu is the most honest, transparent leader. The focus of Congress leaders, from Indira Gandhi to Rahul Gandhi, has always been the poverty and backwardness of Kalahandi district. For years together, the Congress formed the government at the Centre and in the state but was there any change in Kalahandi’s fortunes? Rahul Gandhi claims to be the messiah of the people of Orissa but it is ironical that no Oriya was inducted into the Union cabinet.

But inducting a minister could have been the prime minister’s prerogative.

It could be the PM’s prerogative. Rahul Gandhi claims to be the soldier of Dongria Kondhs (tribal community) but he did not invite any tribal leader to share the dais with him while addressing the people in Bhubaneswar. He ignored Pradeep Majhi (former Youth Congress president) at Kotpad (in Koraput). He wants to divide Orissa on caste lines but he won’t succeed in this attempt.

Brahmagiri constituency has long been affected by caste-based conflicts. Last month National SC Commission chief, P.L. Punia had come to enquire into a temple entry dispute. How do plan to fight this medieval discriminatory practice?

These disputes are being fuelled by some individuals and NGOs. They are deliberately trying to create differences among people to disrupt social harmony. Punia has himself found out that Dalits are getting all facilities being provided by the government.

Another source of conflict is illegal prawn farming in Brahmagiri. It has been alleged that many bureaucrats and politicians were involved in the business.

This issue existed long ago. Very soon, we would have a Chilika policy where the interests of fishermen and non-fishermen would be safeguarded and there would be no tension. Right now, there is no role of bureaucrats or politicians.

What’s your equation with Congress heavyweight and arch rival Lulu Mohapatra?

As Brahmagiri MLA, I am committed to achieve what Lulu babu has failed to do over the years for the constituency. I want to show the people in what ways I am different from him. People would realise who is better.

He wears many hats

Young and dynamic, 45-year-old Sanjay Das Burma is the president of the Biju Yuva Janata Dal. Elected to the state Assembly for the first time in 2009 from the Brahmagiri constituency, he missed a ministerial berth narrowly during the last rejig of Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet

Earlier, he has been the general secretary of state Yuva Janata Dal, vice-president and state secretary of BJD

Das Burma completed his schooling from Unit-VI High School, Bhubaneswar and then pursued a diploma course in leather engineering from MITS Institute of Polytechnic, Rayagada. He played an instrumental role in the setting up of the Orissa Leather Technologists’ Association and became its director when he was barely 25 years old

He has been involved in literary pursuits. He set up his own printing press from which an illustrated Oriya journal titled ‘Krantidhara’ was published every month.He was the editor of this journal for 14 years and was associated with the Orissa Sahitya Academy organised poetry festival at Chilika

He has also held the post of chairman of Orissa State Housing Board and advisor of Orissa Primary Teachers’ Federation. His hobbies include reading and travelling

What would you have been had you not been a politician?

Since I had an entrepreneurial mindset, I would have had a business of my own. After completing my degree in leather engineering, I was involved with the Orissa Leather Technologists' Association. Infact, I set up this association myself. But in Orissa there was no much activity in this field. I set up a printing press from which a monthly Oriya journal was published. But since my childhood days, I always had an ambition to enter into politics and serve the people of my state. Late Biju Patnaik's leadership, cour-age and adventurous life influenced me a lot. No one else from my family is into politics