HOT SEAT
Bijayshree Routray
minister, forest and environment

You have taken everyone by surprise by announcing that you would retire from active politics. What made you make such an announcement?

It was not a sudden decision, but a well thought out one. During the 2014 elections, I made it amply clear to the voters of my constituency, Basudevpur, and also to the party leadership, that I would not contest in 2019. Today, I just aired my decision again in the pubic. I think we should create space for the younger generation.

Does it mean that you will retire from politics?

I will retire from electoral politics. I will not contest the Assembly or the Lok Sabha elections that are directly related to people. But I will be there in the organisation. I will put my best to strengthen the party organisation. I will fight for the party's candidates and ensure that my party comes back to power with an outstanding majority in 2019. I am sure that my leader, Naveen Patnaik, will be the chief minister for the fifth consecutive term.

Is it the age factor that prompted you to make such a decision?

It’s not because of my age, I can comfortably contest at least another two general elections. There is no problem in that, I am fit and fine. But I have worked consistently for 40 years without any rest. It’s a long time. People retire at the age of 60 from service. In some fields, the retirement age has been extended to 62 or 65. But, I will retire at 68. There is no harm in retiring at that age. One should retire when he is hail and hearty.

Don’t you think that there should be an age bar for politicians to retire?

This depends on the mindset of the person concerned. Bolder people should make up their mind to retire at a certain age. I felt that I have overworked and hence, decided to retire. I should not comment on what other people think about the retirement issue. But my feelings are that since I have worked for 40 years as a party man and an organiser, now I should step down. Out of those 40 years, I have served more than 30 years as a legislator. I don’t want to work as a people’s representative any more.

If the party sends you to the Rajya Sabha, will you refuse that offer?

I cannot tell you that at this moment. I will abide by the party’s decision, whatever it decides.

Perhaps the growth of the BJP in the state compelled you to quit politics...

I am not a coward, I am a strong person. The BJP coming to power in the state is like a daydream. There is no harm for them to daydream, but the BJD, under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, will win the elections hands down. I give this guarantee.

We noticed how the BJP made its presence felt during the inauguration of the LNG terminal at Dhamra, close to your Assembly constituency. All the roads were dotted with BJP flags... 

I think we should wait till 2019. You will see whether the BJP has risen or will rise in Odisha again.

You are the son of an illustrious father, former chief minister Nilamani Routray. Don’t you think your son should also take to electoral politics?

If he is worthy enough to be in electoral politics, there is no bar. If the people of Basudevpur and our party leadership give their consent to this effect, I have no problem. If the party thinks he is the fittest person to contest,

I have nothing to say. He is already in politics. It’s now a question of people accepting him or not. If the people accept him and shower their love on him, I have nothing to say.

You are a senior member of the party. Do you think that the party is following the policy of equidistance from both the Congress and the BJP?

I think that we are maintaining equidistance from both the parties.

Your party’s policy of equidistance has already been in question for supporting the NDA’s presidential nominee Ramnath Kovind… People are viewing your party with suspicion...

The presidential election is something different, it’s not a party election. All should rise above politics while electing the president of India. Here, our leader Naveen Patnaik, after consultations, has supported a Dalit candidate. We will abide by his decision.

But the UPA’s nominee, Meira Kumar, is also a Dailt...

The UPA announced Meira Kumar’s name after Kovind’s name was announced by the NDA. Had it been announced earlier, we would have thought about it.

There has been dissension in the party over supporting the NDA candidate. Even two MPs, Tathagata Satpathy and Bhartruhari Mahatab, had questioned the decision…

There is no dissension. We are feeling the same way Naveen babu felt - supporting Kovind is the right decision. We all abide by that decision without any hesitation. Besides, Satpathy and Mahatab had not objected to the decision. I had discussed with them and they are backing Kovind without any hesitation.

But the infighting has been growing in the party over the years…

There is infighting in every party. But respecting the supreme leader and abiding by his decision is not in dispute in our party. Once he takes a decision, we support it without any question. Ever since Naveen babu has joined politics, we have all supported him and worked sincerely. We also ensure that he acquires a bigger image in the country. We are proud of him that he has proved himself. We feel proud to be with Naveen Patnaik.

You are in politics for the past four decades. Don’t you think that over the years, value-based politics has deteriorated?

Certainly. The idea of serving people is like a sadhana. It’s not an easy task. One can win a particular election depending on the swing, but it is not always there. You have to work for the people and work religiously. You can never put the people in trouble — you have been elected to serve the people and have to do this despite any problem that comes your way. You are elected to bring
development to your area.

The younger generation thinks that by joining politics, one can earn quick money and amass huge wealth which is not possible in other professions. How do you react to this?

I don’t know if any young person has it in their mind. But when I joined politics, it was not my idea. My intention was to serve the people and serve religiously.

Your forest department has landed in a problem in handling the situation at Niali, where hundreds of sheep have been killed by unknown animals. Don’t you have the required manpower and infrastructure to deal with the issue?

We have adequate officials and infrastructure. Since the animal is a wolf and it’s very slippery by nature, it’s difficult to catch it. We have installed more than 50 trap cameras. We have also sought the help of the Wildlife Institute in Dehradun. Their officials will come in a day or two to guide us on how to deal with the problem.