Photograph jest

During the recent launch of an online sale facility of Chilika Fresh that markets fresh fish, prawn and crabs from the Chilika lake, agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy distributed appointment letters to 124 assistant fisheries officers. After handing them the letters, the minister, who owns a mobile theatre (jatra) group, asked the young officers in his typical operatic style to take a group photograph with him and then advised them to keep a copy of the photograph with them. “You should keep the photo with you as it will help me recognise you when I visit your districts,” said Maharathy, half in jest. The officers though nodded their heads in agreement, taking his advice seriously.   

Delhi visits  

Each time a Congress MLA visits Delhi and meets the party’s central leaders, it sparks speculations about a leadership change in Bhubaneswar. 

So much so that Delhi visits of Congress leaders has turned into a joke. Hence, when Congress’s deputy leader in the Assembly Chiranjib Biswal met All India Congress Committee vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Friday, close on the heels of a similar meeting of four of his party colleagues with the Gandhi scion, the joke was that Biswal did not speak a word during the interaction. 

“He did not have to because Rahul understood why he was there,” said a source.

Expensive loss

Lyngdoh Commission guidelines about expenses in students’ union polls are apparently followed more in their violation. A case in point is the just-concluded campus polls in the state that saw aspirants opening their purse strings without any inhibition. 

A women’s university in Bhubaneswar saw a few contestants reaching the campus to address the “What I Stand For” meeting in expensive cars and even horses specially hired for the occasion. Others treated their supporters to their favourite delicacies at select joints. 

While no one raised an eyebrow, the only solace for Lyngdoh, who had drafted the guidelines long ago, might have been that the candidates who splurged mindlessly mostly lost, the most glaring example of this being the defeat of the girl who rode to the campus in an Audi to address her supporters.

Close ties    

Union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram and suspended state BJP leader Ashok Sahu continue to be thick as thieves. Though Oram has not been able to get Sahu’s suspension order lifted so far, thanks to pressure from other factions of the party, he ensured that the former IPS officer remains close to him. In the past, they have been seen together at many programmes, sometimes raising eyebrows. 

However, the duo couldn’t care less. Sources said Oram, though keenly aware of the political equations in the state party, takes good care of his friends and supporters even at the risk of being criticised. But this ensures that those loyal to him hardly ever waver when the crunch comes.

Drought politics 

Drought politics in the state is getting interesting. Initially, the state government, on the basis of preliminary estimates made by respective collectors, had announced 12 districts as drought affected. 
The announcement was made by none else than chief minister Naveen Patnaik himself. However, the very next day, revenue minister Bijayshree Routray, who had been missing from action for sometime, announced that the number of drought-affected districts was 16 with four more — Balangir, Nuapada, Jharsuguda and Bargarh — being added to the list. Sources in the ruling BJD said that the new names were added following pressure from leaders belonging to these districts. “Since declaration of drought would mean generous compensation to the affected farmers, the whole thing has turned into vote bank politics with our leaders keen to make the most of the situation,” said a ruling party functionary.  

FOOTNOTE

Dal trouble

Struggling to keep dal prices under control, food supplies and consumer welfare minister Sanjay Das Burma must be cursing his luck. While most of his ministerial colleagues appear relaxed with Puja in the air, he has been holding a series of meetings and taking other initiatives to bring down the prices. 

However, his efforts have met with little success so far. The minister is not at fault as the price of dal depends on external factors like production in other states, which are beyond his control. 

The current joke on the situation is that the minister can take an easy way out by putting the entire blame on the Centre. 

“The ruling party blames the Centre for almost everything. So why not this time when it is clear that the state can do very little about it,” suggested a sympathiser light-heartedly.