Errant MPs

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, despite his best efforts, is finding it increasingly difficult to stop BJD leaders from publicly airing their views on party affairs. After Kendrapara MP Baijayant Panda and Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahatab, Dhenkanal MP Tathagata Satpathy has become a thorn in his side. Satpathy’s recent outburst at a public meeting, where he described a BJD leader as a thief, has left the party shocked and Naveen worried. Though Naveen is reported to have sought an explanation from him, there is a growing feeling within the BJD that he is losing grip on the party.

Frosty ties

The relation between Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra appears to have worsened recently. Pradhan, who was unhappy with Mohapatra’s criticism of the BJP’s stand over the Mahanadi issue, is now fuming after his bête noire sought to raise the issue of employment of Odias in the Paradip oil refinery, which he showcases as his major achievement. While supporters of Pradhan feel that the issue is being deliberately raised to show him in a poor light, Mohapatra’s followers are all in praise of him for taking up the cause of the people.

Firebrand leader

With elections just two years away, Birmitrapur MLA George Tirkey has begun mobilising tribals of not only his constituency, but also adjoining areas, to take up issue of their neglect by the state government. Tirkey, who holds the BJD and chief minister Naveen Patnaik responsible for lack of education and employment among the state’s tribals, is believed to be planning an agitation demanding jobs for them in industries across Sundargarh. BJD sources said Tirkey was turning aggressive because the elections were nearing: “He is an Independent MLA and this is the only way he can retain his following.”

Prasad relief

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan seems to be breathing easy for the moment with his detractors apparently having toned down their demand for his removal. The visits to New Delhi by the dissidents have become fewer and his critics appear to have fallen silent for reasons best known to them. If party sources are to be believed, they have realised the futility of ramping up their campaign against the party chief at a time when the Congress’s central leadership seems to be preoccupied with other pressing issues.  Besides, the chances of forcing a change through a show of strength appear to be dim for the time being.

FOOTNOTE

Crowd trouble

Though Bhubaneswar mayor Ananta Narayan Jena was nowhere to be seen at the public hearing organised by the state pollution control board at Chandaka Dak Bungalow on Tuesday to thrash out a solution to the controversy over the Bhuasuni dumping yard on the city outskirts, some councillors representing different wards of the civic body had reached the venue with their supporters. Their presence, however, was resented by local residents who were demanding its relocation on the ground that it was polluting the area. The residents from villages such Daruthenga and Chudanga in the vicinity of the yard jeered the councillors who were forced to leave midway through the hearing.