Theatrical best

Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy was at his theatrical best at a programme organised on Utkal Divas where his central counterpart Radhmohan Singh and Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan were present. While Maharathy, the owner of a yatra (mobile theatre) troupe, described Pradhan, one of the major political opponents of chief minister Naveen Patnaik as his “bhai” (brother) in his booming voice accompanied by typically expansive gestures, he recited a couplet to express his affection for Singh. “Likhta hoon main khoon se syahi na samjhna, marta hoon tujhpe jan se jinda na samjhna (Don’t mistake it for ink for I am writing to you in blood. And don’t think I am alive for I have already sacrificed my life for your love),” said Maharathy as the two Union ministers tried to suppress a laugh.  

Bhalu’s ways 

Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati is perhaps the most popular and colourful MLA in the Assembly. His jovial nature ensures that he has friends in all the parties. Nicknamed Bhalu, he is often the butt of jokes of his colleagues. The other day, agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy made light of a question by him on sugarcane farming saying Bhalu (Odia for bear) was an enemy of sugarcane because it loves its sweet stem. While most of the MLAs present laughed at the remark, Bahinipati gave him a blank look. Either the pun had either been lost on him or he was just pretending to be slow.

Oram words

Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram has been rarely accused of being flippant. Hence his statements are taken seriously in the political circles. Yet, many found it hard to believe him when he declared in Bhubaneswar last week that many senior BJD leaders were in touch with the BJP leadership and may cross over soon. The reactions ranged from “pure kite flying” to “nothing wrong with building castles in the air”. But sources close to Oram say the minister sticks to his statement that came in the wake of an interesting tweet by BJD MP Tathagat Satpathy about the BJP trying to split his party with the help of a Trojan horse.

Protective kin

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik is believed to be extremely sensitive about his sister, well-known writer Geeta Mehta. If sources in the BJD are to be believed, the two not only share a common love for books, but also like to discuss literature whenever they get together. It was this love and concern for his sister, who has written acclaimed books such as Karma Cola, A River Sutra and Raj, that made Naveen rush to the media to set to rest speculations about Geeta joining politics. 

“He is extremely protective of his sister and knowing well that she is completely disinterested in politics, he was eager to clear the air on the issue,” said a BJD leader.

Footnote

Bizarre claims 

State BJP chief Basant Panda has started a controversy by saying that the BJD should thank his party for its existence. 
Panda, who made the comment on the foundation day of the BJP, was obviously referring to the fact that a section of erstwhile Janata Dal leaders even before the death of Biju Patnaik, father of Naveen and the man after whom the BJD is named, had begun discussing a possible alliance with the BJP which was on a political ascent at the time. Soon after Biju babu’s death in 1997, the BJD was formed and it immediately tied up with the BJP. 

However, Naveen has rubbished the claim as “absolute falsehood”.  

Ashutosh  Mishra