Bahinipati jibe

Congress veteran and Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, who is leading the popular movement for Borigumma panchayat in Koraput to be declared a Notified Area Council (NAC), has sought to put pressure on the government by citing the example of Bijepur in Bargarh district, which was recently declared an NAC ahead of a bypoll in the area. 

Taking a dig at chief minister Naveen Patnaik in his inimitable style, Bahinipati said: “Bijepur was accorded NAC status out of turn because the chief minister wants votes for his party. But the claim of Borigumma has been neglected though it happens to be the state’s biggest panchayat.” 

“If the chief minister will make Borigumma an NAC only if the local MLA dies and there is a bypoll in the area, he should let me know,” the veteran Congress MLA added, alluding to the bye-election necessitated by the death of Congress MLA Subal Sahu.

Boomerang

Agriculture minister Damodar Rout’s statement about Union agriculture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat’s visit to the house of Bargarh farmer Brunda Sahu, who committed suicide on November 1 after setting his pest-hit crops on fire, has drawn severe criticism. 

While rivals described the comment that sought to portray the family as pro-BJP as “insensitive”, Sahu’s younger daughter, Priti, lashed out at him for making such imputations. 

“Such statements do not behove a senior minister. He should know that we are into farming and have nothing to do with politics,” she said. 

Many admired her courage and the dignified way the family has conducted itself since the death of its primary breadwinner.

Twitter savvy

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who is hyperactive on Twitter, never misses an opportunity to comment on important issues. He made newspersons very glad with his tweet on the National Press Day. “Warm greetings to journalists, mediapersons on #NationalPressDay. Free Press is the keystone of a functional & vibrant democracy. On this day, we commit to upholding values of a free and fair press that can guide us for a developed & #EmpoweredOdisha,” he tweeted. His tweet after meeting acid attack survivors also drew praise. “Glad to meet the inspiring ladies from @SheroesHangout café. Acid attack survivors are the true heroes, epitome of strength, courage & never-say-die attitude,” he wrote.  

Signs of trouble

The slow progress on the second bridge over the Brahmani river in Rourkela, for which the foundation stone was laid by Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari in July, may become embarrassing for the BJP. Supporters of local party MLA, Dilip Ray, who campaigned to turn the project into reality, are said to be unhappy with the progress, which has become a prestige issue for them. Some have been vocal about it, which could dent the party’s image. The balancing factor happens to be Union tribal affairs minister and Sundargarh MP Jual Oram. He has no such complaints and remains confident about the project’s timely completion.  

Modi fan

Union tribal affairs minister, Jual Oram, knows which side of his bread is buttered. This was evident from his Twitter account, which has several tweets and retweets highlighting the leadership qualities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Rise in popularity of PM @narendramodi among various demographic groups is an endorsement of his commitment and continuous efforts to make India a Vishwaguru again,” read one tweet, while another said: “PM Shri @narendramodi’s popularity is unbeatable across India.” Yet another said: “Most Indians hold a favorable opinion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and many are content with the state of the economy and the country’s direction.”

Footnote

The young minister of state for sports and youth services, Chandra Sarathi Behera, has become the envy of his ministerial colleagues with Bhubaneswar emerging as one of the major sporting centres of the country under his watch. The first-time minister, who collected accolades for the successful organisation of the Asian Athletics Championship in the state capital, is now pulling out all stops to ensure that the upcoming Men’s World Hockey League Final at Kalinga Stadium meets the high standards set by the sport’s governing body. “The department seems to have come into its own under him,” said a bureaucrat.