Cold shoulder

Many eyebrows went up when Bhubaneswar mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, during his Monday visit to the controversial Bhuasuni dumping yard at Daruthenga village on the city outskirts, did not speak to the villagers demanding its relocation. Though agitation by the villagers, who had earlier locked up the facility, has been losing steam, they expected the mayor to interact with them and try and find a solution to the problem. Even some Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation employees, who were present at the spot where dumping has been taking place under police vigil, felt it was rather rude and imprudent of the mayor not to interact with the villagers who are on a war path. 

BJD on target 

The talk in the political circles is that the BJP is deliberately targeting BJD leaders in the forefront of the agitation against the Chhattisgarh government’s unilateral constructions on the Mahanadi river. The BJP is being accused of using the CBI to browbeat these leaders. The first to be targeted, according to sources, was mass education minister Debi Prasad Mishra, whose personal aide was recently called by the central investigating agency for interrogation for his alleged links with a money deposit collection company. Even as Mishra sought to play down the development, his ministerial colleague, Sanjay Das Burma’s brother-in-law was interrogated by the CBI, which, after a brief lull in the investigation, seems to have become active again. However, both the ministers, who have been leading the charge against Chhattisgarh on the Mahanadi, remain determined to fight on.

Busy babu

Journalists, who turned up to attend the news conference organised by the state archives ahead of the release of a book on the Quit India Movement earlier this week, had to wait for around 45 minutes for the proceedings to commence as culture secretary Manoranjan Panigrahy arrived late. Worse, soon after his arrival the bureaucrat was heard telling the archives’ superintendent in charge Bhagyalipi Malla to wind up the media briefing as fast as possible as he had other business to attend to. Malla, it appeared, tried to convince him about the importance of the occasion but without much success. The senior bureaucrat’s tantrums were the talking point among the scribes after the event was over.

Twice shy

Notwithstanding the withdrawal of suspension order against him, senior BJP leader Ashok Sahu continues to maintain a low profile. Sahu, who used to air his views on almost everything under the sun, has been unusually quiet these days, refraining even from commenting on issues crucial to the party. Once the darling of the local media, he seems to be keeping a safe distance from scribes. Sources said it was a case of once bitten twice shy. “He had been placed under suspension for commenting on party affairs. Having suffered enough, he is naturally being cautious,” said a party leader.

Low profile

Where is Berhampur MP Siddhant Mohapatra? The cine star-turned-politician seems to be in self-imposed hibernation ever since allegations surfaced that he was among the actors, who had worked in a film produced by the owner of a sham deposit collection company.  Mohapatra, who used to be a major attraction at the BJD programmes, has been keeping his head down and avoiding the spotlight. While his party and cine industry colleague, Anubhav, who also faced similar allegations, sought to make his presence felt in the Rajya Sabha by raising the contentious Mahanadi issue, Mohapatra has made no such attempts. “He knows better than anyone else that courting the limelight can also mean courting controversy. So, he seems to be keeping a low profile deliberately,” said a BJD leader.

FOOTNOTE

Back in form

After a lull that was beginning to take a toll on his image, newly appointed BJP legislature party leader K.V. Singh Deo has become active again. Suddenly he is in the forefront of party’s campaign on the Mahanadi issue and making common cause on this with like-minded leaders. The supporters of Singh Deo, the royal scion from Balangir, are happy to see him active again as, apart from galvanising the cadres, it would help restore the power balance in the party. The Maharaja of Patnagarh, who enjoys an enviable electoral record, is believed to be close to the group that includes veterans such as Bijoy Mohapatra. With Singh Deo back in form this group is likely to assert itself within the party sooner than later.