Food for thought

Music videos to boost political campaigns appear to have become the order of the day. The ruling BJD, which put them to good use during the last election, has come up with another to bolster its Jansampark padyatra programme that kicked off on Gandhi Jayanti. The video that is being played on television channels and cinema halls seeks to underline the Naveen Patnaik-led party’s resolve to take the state forward despite all odds. However, it has apparently failed to strike a chord with the younger generation if the catcalls greeting it in the cinema halls of the city are any indication. Avid cinema-goers testify that the moment it is played in the halls, the younger lot begins to hoot and make all kinds of uncharitable comments. This should be good food for thought for Naveen’s strategists.

Turf war 

Former minister and senior BJD leader Bishnu Charan Das has been engaged in a fierce turf war with excise minister Damodar Rout in Jagatsinghpur district. Their dislike for each other is common knowledge in the political circles. But now, Das also seems to be facing a challenge from Tirtol MLA Rajashree Mallick. Sources said Das recently had a showdown with the first-time MLA when she tried to induct a Congress member into the BJD, apparently without seeking his permission. He took this as an affront as he happens to be the party’s Jagatsinghpur district president. Besides, if sources are to be believed, he seems convinced that Mallick took the step with the support of Rout.

Back in action

Once counted among the front ranking leaders of the state BJP and seen as the party’s answer to BJD MP Tathagat Satpathy in the Dhenkanal-Angul belt, former Rajya Sabha member Rudra Narayan Pani has been maintaining a low profile these days because of the changed equations in his party’s state unit. His visits to the party head office in Bhubaneswar have become less frequent and statements from him are rare. However, much to the delight of his supporters, he was in the thick of action during BJP’s statewide agitation on drought. He led it from the front in the Dhenkanal region, raising hopes that he would be back in focus at the state level too. 

Bitter feud

Former Bonai MLA Bhimsen Choudhary, who joined the Congress after a bitter feud with the state BJP leadership, is now out to take revenge against his political guru, Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram. If sources are to be believed, Choudhary, who holds Oram responsible for his ouster from the BJP, is working hard to convert the minister’s followers. He has also sought to hijack the Khandadhar Bachao Movement, which for a long time was being led by Oram, who represents Sundargarh in the Lok Sabha. 

Sources said Choudhary’s focus was on undermining BJP’s base in the area, as it would hurt the MP from Sundargarh most. Oram’s supporters, though, dismiss “turncoat” Choudhary as a lightweight who is fast losing support.  

Masterstroke 

School and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra has been through many sticky situations in his political career, but has managed to land on his feet each time. His political flexibility and crisis management skills were recently on display when his department faced a daunting challenge in the form of block grant teachers’ agitation. 
As rumours flew thick and fast that chief minister Naveen Patnaik was getting edgy about the agitation that was beginning to impact the image of his government, Mishra came up with a master stroke that saved both Naveen and the government’s image. 

He managed to placate both the groups of protesters who decided to suspend their agitation in view of the government’s assurance to consider their demands. The bigger relief for Naveen was the cancellation of the teachers’ rally at Hinjili, his assembly constituency, thanks to Mishra’s persuasive skills. 

Footnote

Comeback hope

Former minister Surya Narayan Patro, who had gone into a sulk after being left out of Naveen Patnaik’s ministry, seems to have reconciled to the fact that he is no longer in the prime of his political career. 

However, the clever politician that he is — Patro has been working hard to get into the good books of the chief minister. 
He was among the few BJD leaders of the older generation who were in the limelight during the recently concluded state executive meet of the party. 

He also addressed the press conference on behalf of the part with two leaders representing the younger generation alongside him. 

He obviously hopes to bounce back into reckoning within the party but for the moment, he may have to be a little more patient.