Bhubaneswar: The battle line is already drawn and the warriors of both sides are ready to fight. However, at this juncture, the captains of both the teams, instead of invoking each other for the fight, showered praise on each other leaving the common soldiers surprised. This is not all, the captains also holed up for a one-to-one discussion in a chamber. And both the groups tried to keep the one-to-one discussion secret!
This is not the battle field scene from Mahabharat when Lord Sri Krishna preached Arjun on what one should do and don’t. The captains of both the teams were BJP Stalwart and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJD President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Both the leaders at a meeting praised each other and held a secret parley leading to spread confusion among the party workers who are working in the grass root level.
Though nobody knows the outcome of the one-to-one discussion, one thing is clear that there is something is cooking between the BJD and the BJP. The confusion was intensified when Shah, considered as Chanakya in BJP and Number 2 in the Union Government after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, rushed to Bhubaneswar for meeting Naveen Patnaik. All of a sudden made an official program for Shri Shah was chalked out during his visit.
Interestingly Union Minister Home Affairs, Shri Shah came down to Odisha for the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony of two National Highway projects. The Union Minister’s other programs were review of Left Wing Extremism and Disaster Preparedness. Though both the subjects were related to the Home Ministry, still there was hardly any urgency to hold such a meeting in Odisha Capital, observe officials. Therefore, it clearly indicated that Shri Shah came to Odisha just to meet Naveen Patnaik with an agenda, observe political analysts.
While attending the NH project inauguration meeting, Shri Shah showered praise on Naveen and even went to the extent of calling him as a “Popular CM,” The Saffron Stalwart also said that Naveen has created a record for becoming the Chief Minister for five consecutive terms. Naveen on his part, also shun Odisha’s regular central negligence slogan, and said that the Narendra Modi government at the centre, has supported the state’s development initiatives.
However, it was found that Shri Shah changed his tone after the one-to-one meeting, and asked party men to fight against corruption in the BJD Government. He also asked the party leaders to bring the logical end to issues for which they have been fighting for.
Shri Shah’s “blow hot and blow cold” approach has further confused the BJP leaders and workers across the state. Just one hour ago, the Union Home Minister praised Naveen Patnaik and his government and suddenly he changed the tone and asked the saffron brigade to agitate against the wrongdoings of the regional party government in Odisha.
The BJP people were in the midst of confusion and they are unable to come to conclusion as exactly what the BJP central leadership wants. The BJP central leaders suddenly became encouraged to make friends after Naveen’s party- the BJD, announced its decision to support the Delhi Service Bill and oppose the no-confidence motion against the Modi Government over the Manipur issue. Earlier, Naveen has come to the rescue of the Modi Government on several issues by extending support to the BJP. Even, Naveen backed BJP candidate Ashwini Vaishnaw to get elected to Rajya Sabha with support of BJD. Odisha’s regional party has all along been helpful to the Modi government. Therefore, now also it extended support in the passing a bill and a no-confidence motion.
Shri Shah has indirectly justified Naveen’s support by saying that the NDA government during its nine years tenure has provided over Rs 18 lakh crore to Odisha while the previous UPA government gave only Rs 3 lakh crore in 10 years. Shri Shah indirectly said that Naveen’s support to the central government has been well taken care of by the Centre. This was mostly the ‘give and take’ estimation made by the Union Minister.
However, at this juncture when the soldiers are faced to each other ready to fight, can Naveen afford to go for an alliance or any other electoral understanding with BJP, the state’s principal opposition party? Any kind of understanding at this time may be harmful for both the BJD and the BJP, observe political observers.
As such BJP leaders and workers are demoralized over the attitude of the party’s central leadership which goes “blow hot, blow cold” against the BJD. The saffron brigade at the grass root level now wants an intense fight with the BJD. They have so far raised the BJP’s vote share to around 40 per cent and the party remains just some miles away from power by getting 50 per cent votes. At this juncture, any understanding with BJD may cause harm for the saffron party, feel Saffron Insiders.
No alliance and no understanding ahead of the next general elections to Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly, may be a boon for both the parties. However, the BJP may not achieve desired results unless its central leaders enter into direct confrontation with BJD and its leaders. Keeping in view the mind of BJP central leadership, it appears that the next elections will be a friendly match between Naveen Patnaik and Narendra Modi.
