Congress fails to net benefit from BJD crisis

By Our Correspondent / www.indusvalleytimes.com Bhubaneswar, June 8: The Congress leaders in Odisha, who were desperately waiting since 2000 for instability to happen in the ruling BJD for a political resurrection, have failed to reap much dividend from the ongoing crisis in regional party. A group of BJD leaders led by party’s Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra had reportedly sought the help of the powerful faction of the state Congress led by Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra to split the ruling party and form a coalition government. However, another group which does not want Lalatendu call the shots in the party foiled the attempt by convincing the central leaders that it would be a suicidal move. In fact, a few legislators of the Congress were in touch with BJD rebel leader Pyarimohan and assured him support in the even he split the party and formed government. However, they changed their mind when the Congress central leaders did not give them the go-ahead signal. The withdrawal of Congress’ support frustrated the BJD rebel camp’s “coup” bid. With this, the Congress lost a chance to come close to share in the power in Odisha. Although the All India Congress Committee general secretary Jagdish Tytler clarified that his party never wanted to meddle in the BJD affairs, sources said the party refrained from supporting the BJD rebel camp fearing that it might impact its results in 2014 Assembly polls. Senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, who was in Odisha on Thursday, said his party should have taken mileage of the BJD trouble in the Odisha. “At this period when the BJD leaders are fighting for power, the Congress should exploit the situation to come back to power and consign the Naveen Patnaik government to history,” Mr Aiyar added. odisha/odisha/Odisha/Odisha

Man burns two wives, daughters to death

By A.K. Patnaik / www.indusvalleytimes.com Keonjhar, June 7: A man on Wednesday night killed his two wives and two daughters by burning the house in which they were sleeping. The incident occurred at Katupada village under Patna police station in Keonjhar district, 50 km from here. The accused Thakura Mahant (32), the police informed, had married Swaraswati Mohant (28) 10 years ago. As Swaraswti could not conceive even after three years of her marriage, she agreed to Thakura’s insistence for second marriage to her own sister Parvati Mahant (22). Parvati gave birth to two daughters – Janha Mohanta (5) and Sana Mohanta (1). According to the neighbours of the accused, the family lived quite happily after Parvati gave birth to two children. However, trouble started when Thakura suspected the character of his both wives and picked up quarrels with them accusing the illicit relationship with others. It is suspected that he locked his wives and daughters when they were in deep sleep last night and set the house on fire. When the villagers noticed the house burning, they informed the local fire office. However, by the time the fire fighters reached the spot, the house had completely burnt. The victims were charred beyond recognition. “The police seized the charred remains of the victims. We have arrested the accused who had fled the village after committing the crime. Investigation is on to find out if more people are involved in the incident,” inspector Ratan Kumar Sahoo said.

Is this end of a dark era?

By Our Correspondent Bhubaneswar: As admitted by him, he started it in 2000 with the sacking of Bijoy Mohapatra, the key founder member of BJD, and today he met the same fate. When he did it, he justified the action and when he encountered the same, - he dubbed Naveen a “Bhasmasura.” Pyarimohan Mohapatra, once called Chanakya in BJD politics (not in Odisha politics), has all on a sudden become a beimaan (betrayer) and “villain” character mostly detested and looked down upon his once Number One disciple – Naveen Patnaik. Humiliated to the core and reduced to position from where a graceful revival is an uphill task, Mr Mohapatra, as his words in post “coup’ bid press conferences suggest , has till not lost the hope and fervently desires to get back to his earlier position in the party. Though an individual is fully privy to his personal wishes and ambitions, he should try to achieve and obtain them in decent and courteous manner. But, political commentators contend that these qualities always eluded Mr Mohapatra. Besides Bijoy Mohapatra, scores of leaders such as Nalini Kanta Mohanty, Dillip Ray, Kamala Das, Ramkrushna Patnaik, Sarat Kumar Kar were literally pushed to the political wilderness. With their banishment from the BJD, veteran anti-Congress elements were systematically neutralized. As Naveen, who rarely understands the nitty-gritty of politics and has not enough patience to manage party affairs, depended much on Pyarimohan, the latter embarked on mission to create his own aura in the party. After the old elements were cut into size, he nominated a host of youths whose credentials are not so encouraging. These youths, who never deserved to be ward members, became MLAs. It was expected his young brigade would stand in the vanguard and pull his chariot of ambition. Once on high pedestal, most of the young MLAs changed their mind and did not want to sacrifice their newly started career. For the first time, the calculation of Pyarimohan went wrong. Long suppressed, a few old horses are trying to reassure their dominance in the BJD. It would be interesting to see if the “suspicious” Naveen gives them the right space to grow. It also remains to be seen if the chief minister retains the culture set by Pyarimohan or does away with it. www.indusvalleytimes.com

Pyari episode is just prelude, real scene of the BJD play still come

By A.K. Sahoo  // source: www.indusvalleytimes.com

Bhubaneswar, June 2: Long before the present crisis happened in the BJD, ‘Indus Valley Times’ had brought out a serious of reports hinting about the growing intra-party conflicts in the party and its future consequences. The paper carried stories under the captions like “BJD divided between NJD (Naveen Janata Dal) and PJD (Pyari Janata Dal),” “Naveen reads pages from history,” “Dark days ahead for BJD” etc.

The newspaper does not claim any credit for the fact that contents of the stories proved right in view of the developments. The learned correspondents had written those copies basing on the inner developments in the party and analyzing them on the parameters of political dynamics.

Many political commentators then dismissed those stories saying the contents were just “wild imaginations.” But the newspaper stuck to its position with firm conviction.

Now questions come: What will happen in the coming days? Will BJD remain strong as before or it will wane after the recent “revolt” bid? Will the BJD president Naveen Patnaik ever be able to handle the party affairs? Can he face the Opposition’s onslaught on corruption issues? Has his action against his erstwhile advisor Pyarimohan Mohapata and four others stemmed the dissidence fully ensuring a smooth sail ahead? Who will assist Naveen to face the Opposition and manage the party affairs?

A careful examination of all these questions does not provide optimistic answers. The claim of the BJD of being the strongest regional party is proved a myth after the recent episode; - cracks are wide open now.

Since his arrival in Odisha, those who have seen Naveen from a close quarter know he always relied on others to run the party. The key founder of the BJD Bijoy Mohapatra ran the show till 2000 and after his unceremonious ouster from the party the reins went to the hands of Pyarimohan Mohpatra.

Pyari took all the blames on his head for dismissal of founder members, swallowed all the aspersions cast at him with consummate cool and calmness. Though it cannot be ruled out the Rajya Sabha member might have a political ambition behind this, still his efforts successfully created a invincible fortress of security around Naveen. Repeated political attacks and bids of invasions by skilled rivals failed to make any dent to his image.

By launching a slew of measures such as Rs 2 per kg rice scheme and strengthening of the Women Self-Help Groups, Pyari created a huge vote bank that helped the party to register emphatic wins in every election.

A lot of corruption issues were raised by the Opposition. They, among others, include massive irregularities in Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme (MGNREGS), mining scams, coal scam and dal scam. However, Pyari repulsed them quite successfully.

After the recent development, the Opposition will re-sharpen its knife and try to hit more aggressively. The bunch of leaders, who got closer to the chief minister during this transition period, has little political astuteness to face this challenge.

Those who think that with suspension of Pyari and two other MLAs Pravat Ranjan Biswal and Bibhuti Bhusan Balabantaray  dissidence has been curbed, they might get to astonished in the coming days they have just seen prelude such activity. Soldiers always rally round a commander who has guts to lead. Name is not enough to stand in the battle field – fame of fine leadership and fighter is required to hold on to your position.

It would be wrong to presume that those leaders who had held parleys at Pyarimohan’s residence on May 29 have completely reposed their faith in Naveen. They were compelled under circumstances to make a volte face but they would not mind returning to their earlier position in the future when political dynamics changes again.