Bhubaneswar: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to undertake his second visit to Odisha on Saturday (Feb 10), people have started guessing the future course of politics in the state. The speculations over the possible coalition between the Governing BJD and the Opposition BJP are also making rounds in the Odisha political circle as PM Modi adopted a new strategy.
Not a word against Naveen Patnaik, only positive message for the people that BJP Government is looking after people’s interest, point out political analysts.
Shri Modi’s first visit on February 3 has disappointed hardliners who desperately wanted to listen from their Top Leader something against the regional party, which is the main rival of BJP in the state, which goes to simultaneous polls for Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections in next 60 days.
While many people were expecting that Shri Modi will unleash the political attack against BJD from his Kendrapara rally on April 23, 2019 where he urged people to give a decent farewell to Naveen Patnaik as the Chief Minister of Odisha, the Prime Minister on his February 3, 2024 rally at Sambalpur changed his strategy. The top BJP leader refrained from making any direct or indirect attack either on Naveen or his party BJD.
What has actually hurt the hardliners is that Shri Modi addressing Naveen as his “Mitra” (friend) and also shaking hands with the Chief Minister at the dais of the IIM Sambalpur function. Both also exchanged pleasantries with smiles leaving people red faced who wanted that Shri Modi will come down heavily on Naveen or at least against his party and the government.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik , on his part, also praised PM Modi in his speech and said: “Prime Minister has set a new direction for India, and we are on the path to become an economic powerhouse”. This was a clear indication from Naveen that his party may extend support to the central government as it has done in the past.
All along his about 40 minute political speech, Shri Modi focused on the positive side and highlighted several welfare schemes of his government in two terms from 2014 to 2024. The Prime Minister preferred to reiterate his popular dialogue like “Modi Guarantee” and assured the people of Odisha that all in the state will get Pucca Houses over their heads, good health care, drinking water, and raise in farmers income, women and tribal empowerment and others. “When all hopes end, it is Modi’s guarantee that helps people,” Shri Modi boasted adding that his government is committed for the development of Odisha and its people.
By remaining at the top post for about a decade, Shri Modi has probably understood that it is positive politics that could win him and his party, particularly in Odisha. Apparently, taking a cue from Naveen Patnaik’s policy, Shri Modi did not make a frontal attack on the Odisha Chief Minister or his party. It may be a change of strategy of the Prime Minister to win the hearts of Odia people who have several times rejected negative campaigning during elections. “If Naveen is not saying anything against Narendra Modi, Amit Shah or any other politicians, a statement against him (CM) has all along boomeranged. This could be a reason for Shri Modi for refraining from attacking Naveen and his party,” political observers feel.
Shri Modi has apparently studied the minds of Odia people and therefore remained silent, they said. However, many people wondered and raised questions on PM’s change of strategy. He is currently the most popular leader in the country and has stopped speaking against even Rahul Gandhi whom he often ridicules at the drop of the hat. Therefore, as a responsible and a decent Prime Minister, Shri Modi might have preferred to remain silent against Naveen, said another political analyst.
However, nobody is sure whether Shri Modi will adopt the same policy during his next visit to Odisha on February 10 when he addresses a women’s conference in Bhubaneswar. The BJP has organized two women’s conferences, one at Madhya Pradesh and another at Bhubaneswar. Shri Modi will address the women party leaders from 14 states in Bhubaneswar. Selection of Bhubaneswar as a venue for the women conference certainly aims to target the BJD’s women voters who have time and again become a major factor for Naveen becoming chief minister of Odisha five times in a row. Naveen himself has also publicly said that his party will remain in power for another 50 years if women bless the regional outfit. The BJP’s women conference certainly aimed at disturbing the BJD’s women vote bank.
In the February 10 meeting also, Shri Modi may highlight his government’s efforts to empower women in the country. In the process, he may attract the women voters from Odisha, but PM is unlikely to make allegations against the BJD government. However, Odisha BJP has time and again accused the BJD government of political misusing the women self help groups in Odisha. As many as 70 lakh women SHG members are considered as the strength of BJD as they continue to support Naveen’s BJD.
Shri Modi refraining from speaking against Naveen comes after BJP’s top leader Amit Shah last year praising the BJD strong man as the “Most Popular Chief Minister” for remaining the CM for five consecutive times in the state.
While both Shri Modi and Shri Shah praise Naveen, will the people take note on the allegations made against the BJD government by Dharmendra Pradhan, Manmohan Samal and Jaynarayan Mishra?
Congress is however, upbeat over Shri Modi’s silence on BJD and its leaders now claim that they are the only opposition party in Odisha as both regional party and the national party (BJP) are hand in gloves with each other. “They (NBJD & BJP) have a political love marriage in Odisha,” AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge said while addressing a public meeting at Bhubaneswar on January 29 said.
As the notification for the upcoming elections are around 30 days left, the politics take a turn in Odisha. Shri Modi and Shri Shah have given indications and so also Naveen. Time will tell who is with whom the people will stand by.
