Mayor unhappy
 

Mayor Anant Narayan Jena is mighty unhappy with officials who have failed to act against a private company engaged for solid waste management in 15 wards of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation. Sources said the mayor is furious with the officialdom, as nothing has been done to monitor the work of the company. It has been a source of acute embarrassment for him. 
Jena is said to have given the officials a tongue-lashing at a recent meeting and warned them against 
playing with his political career by taking such issues lightly. “It is me who have to face the public and not 
you. Do not make things difficult for me,” he is reported to have told them.

Good Samaritans

For long the object of ridicule, members of the third sex in Bhubaneswar are now winning praise for their social initiatives like opening jalchatras (public water kiosks), which are badly needed during the summer. When Maneka, a member of the third sex opened a kiosk near Salia Sahi, the largest slum in the city, others followed suit. Soon such facilities were set up by others including the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in various parts of the city. “I am happy that I took the initiative and now more kiosks are being opened. We need them everywhere during the summer,” said a beaming Maneka.

Seize the moment

Politicians are generally quick to spot an opportunity for publicity. Amidst the groundswell of devotional fervour, following the identification of sacred trees for making the new idols of Puri Jagannath temple’s deities, they are trying to win brownie points. First off the block was ruling BJD MLA from Jaydev, Shashi Bhushan Behera. Soon after the tree for the idol of Lord Sudarshan was located on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, the focus turned on its septuagenarian worshipper, Somnath Behera. 
The legislator paid him a visit and honoured him with an uttariya (ceremonial scarf). While it was the right move to make for the MLA, as the area happens to be part of his constituency, the elderly daru sevak (tree worshipper) also took the opportunity to raise a few local issues including the concretisation of the village road with him. Their meeting is still being talked about though the tree has been chopped off and carted away to Puri.

Tenacity pays

The transfer of Nuapada collctor V. Jaykumar, who has been replaced with Mohammad Siddique Alam, is being seen as a victory of sorts for local MLA and BJP legislature party leader, Basant Panda. If sources are to be believed, the collector and the legislator did not see eye to eye over a number of issues. Their differences had deepened in the recent past but with BJP in the Opposition, Panda could do little about it. However, the MLA, who was the only other BJP leader of the state after Jual Oram to welcome Narendra Modi in Hindi when he came to Bhubaneswar for campaigning in the last elections, did not give up hope. His tenacity seems to have paid off with Jaykumar now out of his way.

Reshuffle buzz

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik may have denied the possibility of a ministry reshuffle but the ruling BJD circles continue to be abuzz with such talks. Party leaders insist that a few changes in the ministry are indeed in the offing as the chief minister is not happy with the performance of some of his ministers. There are some others who have earned his displeasure because of their tendency of speaking out of turn and occasionally making over-the-top statements. “His denial before the media was nothing but a red herring. He is not the one to do these things by making an announcement in the media. Be prepared for a surprise,” said a BJD leader.  

 

FOOTNOTE

Loyal support

 

Jual Oram, the Union tribal affairs minister, is known to stand by his loyalists when they are going through tough times. A good example of this is his unconditional support for the suspended state party vice-president Ashok Sahu.  A long-time ally, Sahu was punished for alleged violation of discipline but is perceived by many as a victim of group rivalry within the saffron party. However, suspension notwithstanding, Oram continues to associate himself with Sahu. Sources said recently they shared the dais at the annual function of S.V. Nirtar Students’ Association, where a ruling BJD MLA was also present. While Oram was the chief guest on the occasion, Sahu was one of the honoured guests. It kind of confirmed the talk within the state BJP circle that Sahu and Oram are inseparable.