Cordial ties

If a recent interaction between chief minister Naveen Patnaik and Union home minister Rajnath Singh at the secretariat is any indication, the two leaders share an extremely cordial relationship. 
They greeted each other with a warmth that is rarely seen in the chief minister’s meetings with other BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

The atmosphere at some of his meetings with BJP bigwigs in the past has actually been tense to say the least, but with Rajnath it was different. He listened to the chief minister’s demands attentively and Naveen appeared to be satisfied with his assurances. Commenting on the chemistry between the two leaders, a BJP functionary said: “Rajnath is poles apart from Modi. That is what makes him strike such a friendly chord with Naveen babu.” 

Need to be wary 

The talk in the state Congress circles is that senior party leader Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra aka Lulu, who has been in news because of his controversial statements, may be pushing his luck. Lulu raised many eyebrows when he lent unqualified support to the youth Congress activists who attacked BJD ministers with eggs, though their action did not have the sanction of the party. He stuck to his stand on the issue despite the contrary view taken by a number of other party leaders. Lulu was again in focus when his supporters formed Lulu Sena in a sycophantic move that caused ripples in Congress circles. Sources in the party said that leader’s moves were being closely watched and any further act of indiscretion on his part may invite action. “He had better be careful,” said a party leader. 

Uphill task

If BJD sources are to be believed, party’s strongman in Kalahandi, former minister Balbhadra Majhi has been given the responsibility of convincing the Kondh tribesmen inhabiting Niyamgiri that mining of bauxite in the hills would change their lives for better. Winning over the Kondhs, who have been opposing mining tooth and nail, is important with state government making a fresh attempt at obtaining permission for organising gram sabhas in the hills to seek public opinion on mining. This, however, is going to be an uphill task for Majhi despite the fact he himself belongs to the tribal community.

“ The atmosphere in the hills is still very hostile. Majhi will better watch his steps,” warned a BJD leader of Kalahandi. 

Tough job

Food supplies and consumer welfare minister Sanjay Das Burma is struggling to keep bogus beneficiaries out of the food security net as the ration card issue continues to be tricky. Though the minister has been working hard to ensure that only eligible persons get the ration cards and has also cracked his whip on fraudsters in certain areas, there seems no end to complaints in this regard. What is more worrisome for him is the opposition’s campaign against the government on the issue which is extremely sensitive considering that cards are meant only the poor and the deprived people. “Making the system fool proof is proving to be a 
tall order for him,” commented a colleague of Das Burma.

Our tigers

Nandan Kanan park authorities’ decision to exchange four of its tigers for a giraffe from the Alipore zoo in Kolkata has not gone down well with animal lovers. Some of them feel that the park would be losing its importance by giving away the tigers which are the biggest attractions of Nandan Kanan. Since the park had lost at least 13 tigers to an epidemic, not only animal lovers but also the people living around the park are extremely sensitive about them.

“People come to Nandan Kanan mainly to see its tigers. If the authorities keep on gifting them in this way, the park will lose its pride of place among the zoos of the country,” said an animal lover. 

FOOTNOTE

Out of focus

If former chief minister Giridhar Gamang grabbed eyeballs at BJP’s farmers’ convention in Bargarh with Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting him personally and shaking his hands vigorously, senior party leader Bijoy Mohapatra was surprisingly out of focus. 

He was not even invited to speak on the big occasion. This has set tongues wagging in the party circles. Among the theories doing the rounds is one that projects him as an extremely ambitious leader whose manoeuvres are now being closely watched by his colleagues. 

“Some of them are, in fact, wary of him and would like his wings clipped,” said a party leader.