Puja greetings

Politicians of all hues took the lead in wishing people during Durga Puja, with most of them, including Union minister for tribal affairs Jual Oram, sending goodwill messages to friends and supporters. However, Oram's cabinet colleague, minister of state for petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan, chose the high-tech way of greeting the people.

Many were pleasantly surprised when they received calls on their mobile phones with his recorded voice wishing them a Happy Puja.

It was reminiscent of the calls many of them had received from top-notch politicians, including chief minister Naveen Patnaik, during the last elections urging them to vote for their respective parties.

Tough stand

Odisha Cricket Association secretary Ashirbad Behera had stirred a controversy by criticising cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar. Gavaskar had, in the wake of unruly crowd behaviour during the T20 match between India and South Africa at Barabati Stadium on October 5, suggested that the stadium should be banned as a venue for international matches. Showing scant regard for Gavaskar's status as a legend, Behera said the former Indian captain had no right to make such remarks, as he was nothing more than a paid commentator for a sports channel. Many thought Behera would apologise for his comments, but the feisty cricket administrator stuck to his stand, justifying it with full vigour.

Workaholic

Durga Puja was a holiday for most politicians, but for state Congress president Prasad Harichandan, it was business as usual. The former minister was busy planning his party's strategy to put the government on the mat on issues of public importance, including the drought that is affecting large parts of the state.

Prasad even took the opportunity to address reporters on the issue during which he also announced the schedule for the second phase of his party's padyatra programme. Harichandan's determination to put his party on the revival path through hard work has earned him the appreciation of his colleagues, who have extended him full co-operation.

Hard work pays

Thanks to a sustained campaign by the food supplies and consumer welfare department led by Sanjay Das Burma, the state government has been, to a large extent, successful in weeding out undeserving beneficiaries from the list of people being issued new ration cards under the Food Security Programme. With the department working overtime, fake beneficiaries were identified and even punished in many districts.

The move instilled such fear among the people that many of those who had applied for ration cards in violation of the eligibility criteria, began approaching the department themselves with requests for cancellation. It was a huge exercise, which the government seems to have completed successfully with sheer hard work and determination.

Taking a break

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik was not in Bhubaneswar during the Ravan Podi (burning of Ravan's effigy) celebrations on Dussehra.

In his absence, tourism minister Ashok Panda did the honours at the main function in Bhubaneswar, but many wondered why Naveen chose to leave for Delhi instead of hogging the limelight as the chief guest during Ravan Podi. The answer came from one of his party colleagues.

"In the past 15 years of his rule, Naveen babu has slain so many demons (read corrupt officers and politicians) that the symbolic killing of Ravan during Dussehra holds no appeal for him any more. So, he decided to take a break," said the leader, tongue firmly in cheek.

FOOTNOTE

Low profile

Banki MLA Pravat Tripathy seems to have gone into political wilderness since his arrest in connection with money deposit collection scam. Though he is out on bail, he seems to be keeping his head down, perhaps deliberately.

Once among the most vocal leaders of the BJD, he has been silent even on important incidents taking place in his area, such as the alleged suicide of a debt-ridden farmer.

Sources said Tripathy would possibly lie low till his name was cleared from the scam, which had threatened to create a chasm between him and his party.

"He hopes to bounce back, but for that he being, will have to wait for sometime patiently," said a colleague.