Mistaken identity

All kinds of theories and stories have been doing the rounds since the arrest of suspected al Qaida terrorist Abdul Rahman from Cuttack earlier this month. Some of these appear to be cases of over-the-top reporting with newspapers and TV channels trying to outdo one another. A glaring example of this was the report about Rahman having visited the school and mass education department in the secretariat. It sent the government into a tizzy but finally it came to pass that it was not the same Rahman who had gained access into the well-guarded complex that is the seat of the state administration. It was actually a peon, A. Rahman, from a government office in Cuttack who had been to the secretariat, apparently in connection with some official work. This revelation by the police has put an end to the controversy while leaving many red faces in the local media.

Birthday wish 

Former minister and Athagarh MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain aka Raja was among the few BJD leaders who wished former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on his birthday that coincided with Christmas. Conveying his greetings to Vajpayee on Facebook, Raja recalled how the former premier had campaigned for him during the 2000 elections. “Aap Raja ko jita do... Yeh un kaju khaane wale rajaon main se nahin hai, ye aap ke tarah chawal khaane wala raja hai,” Vajpyee had appealed to the people of Athagarh. The words struck a chord and Raja won the election defeating Congress veteran and former chief minister late Janaki Ballabh Patnaik. “The words he spoke still reverberate in the hearts and minds of people of Athagarh,” said the MLA.

Sigh of relief

Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy’s swagger is back. The bearded Pipili MLA, who was in serious trouble over a string of farmer suicide cases in the state, seems to have weathered the storm. But for this, he must thank Congress MLA Naba Kishore Das who took the entire attention away from the farmer suicide issue with his alleged act of watching porn clips in the Assembly. While Das is facing flak from the ruling BJD as well from sections of his own party, the Congress, Maharathy is breathing easy. His usual bluff and bluster is in evidence again for he knows that now few people are going to ask him anything about farmer casualties.

Troubled nights

School and mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra must be cursing his luck as the sine die adjournment of the Assembly’s winter session has failed to mitigate his woes. Groups of teachers, who hogged the limelight during the session with dharnas and demonstrations over their multiple demands, have dug in their heels bracing for a long fight. They are still on dharna near Master Canteen Square, sleeping in the open, and thus, robbing the minister of his sleep. Mishra has tried almost every trick in his bag to convince the teachers to go back home but they won’t listen. “It has been one long winter for the teachers and the minister,” quipped a BJD leader.

Proxy war 

Rival factions in the state BJP are leaving no stone unturned to get their candidate elected as the president. Though no one is willing to speak openly, party leaders admit that the election would be a proxy war between union tribal affairs minister Jual Oram and his cabinet colleague Dharmendra Pradhan. And many of them predict that street smart Oram, the tribal face of the party, may succeed in getting his candidate elected. “The general impression is that Pradhan is smarter and more sophisticated, but Oram has stronger roots within the party and is an excellent manager. In any case, it is going to be an engaging battle,” said a BJP leader.

ASHUTOSH MISHRA

FOOTNOTE

Rebellion brews

The war between Pradesh Congress Committee chief Prasad Harichandan and former Union minister Bhakta Charan Das, who is cut up with the former over the choice of Kalahandi district unit president, is heating up. 

Currently, both of them are sticking to their guns, with Das in a mood to unfurl the flag of rebellion. 
Party sources said it would be foolish to underestimate the strength of Das, given his closeness to Rahul Gandhi who has used him in the past to campaign for the rights of tribals and scheduled castes. 

“The central party leadership is in no mood to rock Harichandan’s boat at the moment, but it might insist on Das’ demands being accommodated,” said a Congress leader.