The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is eyeing the Telugu vote bank in south Odisha. Its ministers are frequently visiting the state. You come from a region which has a sizeable Telugu population. It must be worrying your party...
Why should we be worried? We have no problem if they are coming here. But, I think they are not serious. One must try and understand the reasons that make them take interest in Odisha. They want to become a national party and contest the elections in Telangana. In order to get the status of a national party, they need to contest in at least four states. (To get the national party status, a party either requires to win two per cent of seats in the Lok Sabha from at least three different states or poll six per cent of total valid votes in an election to the Lok Sabha or Assembly in at least four states in addition to winning four Lok Sabha seats or is recognised as a state party in at least four states.)
But it will certainly have an impact on the vote base of the BJD...
That's not correct. We must understand the history of the region. We were all part of the Madras Presidency before Odisha was formed in 1936. Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956. Telangana comes much later than that. So, the people have no attachment particularly towards Andhra Pradesh. What are you talking about vote sharing? The TDP will not be able to win even a ward, forget wining an MLA or MP seat...
You sound very confident
I am a grassroots-level worker. I am aware of the strength of my party and know the mentality of the people in my area.
Earlier, you were in the backseat. Now, you are a frontline leader and have emerged as Naveen's point man for south Odisha. How do you feel?
How can you call me a backseater? Haven't you seen me in the frontline in the past 20 years? The party had made me chairman of the various state public sector units. It also made me the party's general secretary and later party's vice-president as well. I am always in the front.
But you had never contested any election for an Assembly or Lok Sabha seat.
I didn't have the scope to contest (for the Assembly and Lok Sabha) as all the seats in my region are reserved seats (for SC and ST). For me, the party is everything. I am the senior-most leader of my party from the region and anyone who claims to be belonging to the party, has come (to the party) only after me.
You have called yourself a member of the Biju Parivar. But, the party has almost taken 15 years to send you to the Rajya Sabha. Don't you think the reward has come too late?
I was always rewarded. The party had made me chairman of various state PSUs, including the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) and the Odisha Rural Housing Development Council (ORHDC). It had made me the deputy chairman of the state planning board and had even elevated my position to the status of a cabinet minister. I never felt I was neglected. In fact, the party has given me a lot.
You must have been happy when Naveen informed you that you had been picked up by him to go to the Rajya Sabha...
Yes, I was happy. Whenever he gives any assignment to me, I do it diligently. Till my death, I will only do whatever is best for the party and the state. That's my commitment.
You had worked as the vice-chairman of the state planning board. But, critics say that the board has gradually been losing its relevance. Talks are on to abolish the board. What do you have to say?
This is a question I cannot answer. As the chairman of the state planning board, the chief minister can only take a call on this.
But don't you think that the planning body has lost its relevance?
It's a body not like any other government department. The planning board is a collective body that coordinates with various departments and prepares plans for the district and the state in consultation with experts. Whatever exercise is required, the board does it. Its proposal is reflected in the state's budget. But people have little chance to know about the contribution of the board. But, If something better comes up, everybody, including me, will welcome it.
After your name was announced for the Rajya Sabha, tribal leader from Koraput Jairam Pangi had raised his voice disapproving the decision of the party...
You have misunderstood him...He had said two things. One, since I was working as the deputy chairman of the state planning board, he would have been happy if he could have been sent to the Rajya Sabha. At the same time, Pangi also made it clear that the state leadership decided to send me to the Upper House as I am working for the party relentlessly without contesting any election. He had said the party might have decided to give me an opportunity. But the media played up one part of it.
Pangi had hinted that his name was dragged to the schoolteacher Itishree Pradhan murder case at your instance. What do you say?
I have nothing to say. He has to answer. The investigation is going on. Why should I drag someone's name unnecessarily?
The state had witnessed a hue and cry over Itishree's murder case. Don't you think that there was a political conspiracy behind the murder?
I don't have anything to say on this matter. The CB> is investigating into the case on the Supreme Court's direction. It will not be wise on my part to comment.
It's a public perception that you are not in good terms with Pangi...
It's all media created. We are working in one party and under one leader. He is looking after Koraput and I am looking after Rayagada. Whenever the party feels his requirement, it engages him. When my requirement is there, the party uses me.
Despite stalwarts like you, the area remains backward in terms of development...
If you just compare development before 2000 and after, you will see the difference. We are having road connectivity with most areas. About 90 per cent bridge connectivity is there.
The BJP is now trying hard to make inroads into the southern belt after they have been successful to a certain extent in west Odisha...
They are a national party and they will certainly try to expand their base. But, we are strong enough in the state. We have 117 members in 147-member state Assembly and have 20 MPs out of total 21 from the state. Besides, we have eight Rajya Sabha and one Independent member with us. We have struggled hard to reach such a situation. It takes time to reach that position.
But, compared to the pace of development in coastal Odisha, development in south Odisha is not that satisfactory...
Why are you dragging me into this sensitive issue? Our people are happy. We are happy. We saw the government before 2000 and after that. There has been development in the area and I cannot compare (the two regions).
Don't you think that there is a lopsided development in the southern areas because of Visakhapatnam, the nearest major town to south Odisha?
It happens everywhere. People of Balasore and Bhadrak go to Calcutta to meet their needs. Even people go to Raipur in Chhattisgarh. It is a national problem.
Maoist activities have affected the pace of development in your region - particularly in Malkangiri and Rayagada districts...
The problem is not a region-specific one. As many as 16 districts of the state are affected by Naxal activities. The other states, including Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, have also been hit.
What will be your main agenda in the Rajya Sabha?
My priority will be to have a better connectivity in terms of railways network. I will try to see that there is railway connectivity between Gopalpur and Rayagada, Gopalpur and Gunpur, and Rayagada and Malkangiri.
You must be disheartened seeing senior leaders in the BJD are busy in infighting which is affecting the party's image at large...
It's not my area to answer. Senior people are there and above all, the party president is there to look into this issue. But it happens in all the parties and why are you singling out the BJD?
You had worked with late Biju Patnaik and are now working with Naveen Patnaik. There must be some difference between the two leaders...
I don't see any difference between the two leaders. Biju babu used to dream for the state and work hard for its development. Naveen babu is doing exactly the same. Their style of functioning may be different, but their goal is the same - overall development of the state.
After you filed your nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha, income tax officials had raided your house. You have been accused of tax evasion. The Opposition has started targeting you...
My chartered accountant is dealing with the matter. You will hear the other side of the story very soon. Just wait. In politics, it is quite common that people will criticise you to ensure that you cannot move forward. You cannot always enjoy sunny weather. You should also be ready to face rough weather.
FROM HINTERLAND TO THE RAJYA SABHA
• One of the richest Rajya Sabha members of the BJD Nakkiniti Bhaskar Rao, 63, started his career with the Utkal Congress, floated by Biju Patnaik, in 1974
• A stalwart of BJD from south Odisha, Rao did his matriculation from Rayagada and graduation in commerce through distance learning programme
• He has emerged as one of the best organisers of the party in south Odisha
• He is credited with the party's spectacular performance in Koraput and Rayagada districts in the last general elections
• Rao, an agriculturalist by profession, is also a businessman with interest in transport and logistics
• In 2011, his brothers N. Peraya Raju and N. Nageswar Rao, were hacked to death in suspected political rivalry. But that had not deterred his spirit and he continued to work for the party unflinchingly
WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN IF NOT A POLITICIAN?
It was Biju babu who had brought me into politics. I am a member of the 'Biju Family.' Had I had not joined politics, I would have remained busy in the farming sector
