Freelance is in  

Former chief minister Giridhar Gamanag, who joined the BJP last week snapping his four-decade-old link with the Congress, seems to have made a significant contribution to the country’s political lexicon by coining the phrase “freelance politician”. The coinage gained great currency in the wake of his resignation from the Congress on May 30 following which there was intense speculation as to which party he would join. All through this period of 13 days till he joined the BJP at the residence of party president Amit Shah in New Delhi, Gamang kept describing himself as a “freelance politician”, implying thereby that he could go and join any party. This also elicited derisive comments from some of his former Congress colleagues, who said though not publicly, that he had put himself up for sale. 

Take no chance

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik, who left for New Delhi on an official trip on Thursday, is scheduled to return to the state on June 15, a date that is seen as significant. The ritual of Brahma parivartan (change of soul) for the deities of the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri is to take place on the intervening night of June 15 and 16. Apparently, the chief minister is keen to be present in the state on such a momentous occasion, as this would also help him strike a chord with the religious-minded Odias. But the current joke in the corridors of power is that Naveen would be rushing back to Bhubaneswar to ensure that with the spirit of parivartan (change) sweeping the state, no one attempts gaddi parivartan (change of power) in his absence. “Having burnt his fingers once in 2012 when an unsuccessful coup attempt was made against Naveen during his absence Bhubaneswar, he cannot but be very careful,” sniggered an Opposition leader.  

Lessons in Odia

A well-known jewellery brand that boasts of Amitabh Bachchan and southern superstar Nagarjuna as its brand ambassadors, recently launched its store in Bhubaneswar. The pre-launch advertisement biltz included a promotional in the voice of Bachchan on the radio. The megastar spoke in Odia, wowing the audience big-time. But Big B’s success in delivering his lines in a language that must have been alien to him, has given the Opposition an opportunity to target chief minister Naveen Patnaik's poor Odia. “If Amitabh, with no background in Odia can pick up the language so quickly and be able to deliver his lines for the advertisement, why can't our chief minister learn what is supposed to be his mother tongue?” said an Opposition leader. 

Review jitters

Chief minister Naveen Patnaik’s relentless review of the functioning of different government departments is giving not only the ministers but also some top bureaucrats the jitters. 

Unsure of the kind of questions they might be expected to answer, they have been seeking the able guidance of many mandarins in the chief minister’s office before each and every review meeting. 

Sources said most of them are seeking the good offices of a particular bureaucrat considered extremely close to the chief minister. 

The ministers, apprehensive of drawing Naveen’s ire in case of a mistake, have been doing the same for quite sometime. The chief minister’s move has really set the cat among the pigeons.

Cop rapped

Ashish Singh, the Puri superintendent of police, had made a name for himself in Keonjhar by launching a relentless campaign against Maoists, many of whom were either captured or were forced to give up arms. 

However, his reputation as a tough cop seems to have taken a beating in the state’s pilgrim town where he needs to be extremely cautious while dealing with people. Sources said Singh got a lengthy rebuke from the daitapatis (temple servitors) while trying to control the crowd of devotees during the recent snana purnima of Lord Jagannath and His siblings. 

When he sought to ensure order among the devotees jostling and pushing one another by using a palm leaf baton, he was reportedly chided by the daitapatis, who told him such tactics are bound to backfire since the crowd in Puri behave differently compared to other parts of the state.

FOOTNOTE

Routray upbeat 

The enthusiasm of former minister and veteran Congress leader Suresh Kumar Routray is quite infectious. 
One could see this at an event organised recently in Bhubaneswar to mark the fourth graduation ceremony of the prestigious National Institute of Science Education and Research (Niser). Presently engaged in a high-pitched campaign to have the proposed Indian Institute of Management (IIM) located in Bhubaneswar, the former minister was seen surrounded by his supporters at the function and waxing eloquence about how Bhubaneswar was turning into a major educational hub in the country. 

“We have Niser, IIT and now we will have an IIM too. You see how Bhubaneswar has transformed in the past few years,” Routray said.