Bhubaneswar: As the general elections to Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly are coming closer, there is clamor among opposition parties while the ruling Biju Janata Dal maintaining silence under the changed political situation. From among opposition parties, now number three in the rank, the Congress seems to have activated its rank and file, while its leaders appear to be encouraged for no such specific reason in Odisha, but for some other factors taking place elsewhere in the country. The Congress people are again in the upbeat mood and regularly hitting the streets. Thanks to the OPCC President Sarat Pattnayak and his team.
The Congress which ruled the state for several years, however, remained out of power for two and half a decade thus making its rank and file left in a moribund condition. However, this winter seems to have infused some heat in the old party and the Congress people are on the streets. The party has been holding rallies, dharnas, demonstrations and sit0ins besides senior leaders are moving to the grassroot and mingling with people.
The Congress in fact sees a future in Odisha after the close relationship between the Governing BJD and the state’s principal opposition party- the BJP, come to the fore. The Congress has been going on making allegations that BJD and BJP are two sides of one coin. However, people have now started believing the allegation from a single instance. As the voluntary retirement application of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s close aide VK Pandian was approved by the Centre in just three days, the people have started believing that the close link between the two political parties is now established. Acceptance of VRS application at a lightning speed by the BJP led government at the Centre, is certainly a clear indication of the closeness between the two parties, many people believe.
As the bonhomie between the state’s ruling party and the principal opposition party is now known, the people have reasons to look at alternatives and Congress will meet the aspirations of the people who are fed up with the 24 years of BJD regime, Sarat Pattnayak argued. In democracy, when the people get over the ruling party, they used to see an alternative in the main opposition party.
Here in Odisha, the BJP is gradually losing its acceptance as the opposition party. In the process, the BJD has nothing to lose and maintain its position as it is, while the BJP is likely to be a major sufferer. The people who do not vote for BJD would no more cast their opinion in favour of BJP as they have understood that both the parties are one. Therefore, the voters will either continue their support to BJD or may cast votes in favour of Congress, which has been struggling to get back its opposition status in the assembly.
It is a fact that the BJP leaders like Jaynarayan Mishra and Aparajita Sarangi are making frontal attacks against the BJD, but can they convince the people that the BJP was really opposed to the BJD? The BJP rank and file in Odisha also criticize the BJD and its leaders, but the saffron party’s central leaders’ relationship with Naveen Patnaik appeared to be closer than their State President Manmohan Samal. While Aparajita has lodged complained against the State Government on various issues, Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised Naveen Patnaik and described him as the most popular leader in the state for which has been continuing to remain Chief Minister for five times in a row.
On his part, Naveen Patnaik also gives certificate to the BJP led Narendra Modi government, Naveen recently gave 8 out of 10 marks to Modi government and also said the NDA government was “less corrupt” while in the past the BJD president has described Congress led UPA government as a “Ocean of Corruption.” His party has all along been helpful to BJP and besides directly supporting Ashwini Vaishnaw to get elected as MP to Rajya Sabha.
Both the BJD and the BJP pat each other and there seems to be no such opposition and the political rivalry comes to the fore only during the elections. The shadow boxing between the BJD and the BJP has all along amused the people of Odisha, who preferred to remain with Naveen and the regional party instead of BJP, a national party.
This time round, the Congress leadership believes that the party may substantially gain if the people are apprised about the nexus between the BJD and the BJP. Though Sarat Pattnayak boasts that his party would this time secure 90 seats in the assembly from the existing only 9 MLAs, the political analysts, however, see some positive change for the oldest party. The Congress may raise its tally from nine while BJP may find it difficult to maintain its position in the assembly under the changed situation.
However, nobody can exactly say what will happen the next day in politics. As such there is about six months to go for the general elections. All the three major parties are trying to boost their position and the real fight will start after Durga Puja. The time has arrived for the big political shows. The Congress has already held rallies in Puri, Jatni, Kendrapara and Malkangiri. The party has announced a ‘Kirtan Satyagraha” demanding all four gates of Lord Jagannath temple in Puri. Time will tell how far the Congress makes people understand that BJD and BJP are one and not two!.
