Naveen’s humour

Despite his busy schedule and the hectic political activity around him in the wake of the coup attempt by his one-time confidant, Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, chief minister Naveen Patnaik had managed to retain his sense of humour. When journalists waylaid him in the secretariat the day after he axed the third minister perceived to be loyal to Mohapatra, a smiling Naveen said: “The movie is over gentlemen, there is nothing more left. It’s too hot out here, better go home and take rest.” Even the secretariat staff, who were within an earshot, couldn’t resist a laugh. They all knew that the chief minister had cooked Mohapatra’s goose rather well.

Foiled bid

The buzz in the power corridors is that a senior police officer in Rourkela could face the music for his alleged role in organising the meeting of mine owners and leaders close to Rajya Sabha member Pyari Mohan Mohapatra. The officer, who, according to ruling party sources, got a posting in the Steel City with the blessings of Mohapatra, acted in sync with a minister and a local politician from Rourkela who were just as keen as him to keep the entire affair secret. But one of the mine owners, who was present at the meeting, spilled the beans. The news then spread like wildfire and the chief minister’s loyalists swung into action to thwart the coup.

Lone Pyari

Success has many fathers but failure is an orphan. The truth of the saying is borne out by the current plight of Pyari Mohan Mohapatra. Once the cynosure of all eyes in the Biju Janata Dal, the IAS-turned-politician cuts a sorry figure these days shunned by the very same MLAs who used to surround him all the time. The Rajya Sabha member, who chalked out the party strategy for many election and by-elections, suddenly seems to be in dire need of an effective strategy to save himself. To make things worse, he seems to have burnt his boats and the chances of a rapprochement with Naveen appear remote.

Hyper-active

Biju Yuva Janata Dal chief Sanjay Das Burma leads the group of young MLAs trying hard to get close to Naveen since his return from London. He has been running errands on behalf of Naveen and organising closed door meetings to drum up support for him. However, with Das Burma suddenly getting into hyper-active mode, rivals have begun suspecting his motives. Critics allege that the resourceful MLA from Brahmagiri is trying to impress the chief minister in the hope of landing a ministerial berth. “His greed is too obvious. It is no selfless service,” said a rival of the BJD youth wing chief. Das Burma, however, remains unfazed. For him the most important thing at the moment is being in the good books of his boss.

Hopeful Rout

Many ministerial hopefuls have begun lobbying with the talk of a ministry rejig in the air. The names doing the rounds include Damodar Rout and A.U. Singhdeo, both of whom had to quit under controversial circumstances. But since the controversy which led to the ouster of Rout from the cabinet was of an altogether different nature and stemmed from his public spats with Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, all eyes are on him. The point of discussion in the party circles is whether Naveen would reward Rout with a cabinet berth or with an important organisational post in the Biju Janata Dal. “He is certain to get something or the other. But for the time being, the suspense remains,” said a party leader.

The Indian way

The dhoti-clad neta was fast becoming an extinct breed. The ones who keep the tradition going in the ruling Biju Janata Dal are finance minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, former minister Damodar Rout and Odisha Planning Board vice-chairman Surendra Nath Naik.
The focus being back on the old Biju loyalists in the wake of the failed mutiny, suddenly all the three are in the limelight.
It was heartening to see Naik mingling with others at Naveen Nivas last week when a host of party leaders, old and new, turned up at the invitation of the chief minister.
Having lived virtually on the margins of the party for the last few years, Naik, who was denied a BJD ticket in the last elections, must have felt good about being recognised and consulted by his leader.