Rourkela’s political stalwart Dilip Ray has already resigned from the BJP and MLA position and presently on a foreign tour.
With him another political stalwart of the State Bijoy Mohapatra has also resigned from BJP and as per his social media posting he and Dilip will jointly take their further course of action after the latter returns from his foreign tour. Though he has not disclosed of it, there is a perception in political sphere that both will be back to the BJD.
But the question is the reason of resigning from the BJP and position of MLA by Ray is a very serious issue. As per Ray, he was not only ill treated by the party but also the denizens of Rourkela were cheated by the BJP-led Central Government on the issue of second bridge on theBrahmani river and upgrading the Ispat General Hospital (IGH) to a medical college and super specialty hospital as assured by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a huge gathering on 1 April, 2015 at Rourkela.
These two projects are not only a sentimental issue for Ray but also these are very sensitive so far the interest of Rourkela people is concerned. So any more he cannot tell lies to his voters for which he preferred to quit from party and MLA as for him soil is first and party is next.
It is obvious the BJP is also here in trouble for inordinate delay in construction of bridge and upgradation of IGH as both were in the party’s prime agenda during 2014 election campaign and it has to reply in 2019 election despite party’s effort to transfer the responsibility to the State Government for not providing the various clearances in time for bridge construction. But there is no link with the State Government so far as the upgradation of the IGH is concerned. Hence, definitely the BJP is in trouble and many think Ray has taken appropriate step by withdrawing himself from the party.
But now the question is, will Ray be free from answering people if he joins the BJD. Because like the Central Government, the State
Government has not fulfilled the dreams it has shown to the Rourkela people for years together. On July 13, 2013 without any tender and other official activities, the Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone of Koel barrage which is still in cold storage.
The barrage carries much importance so far as the connectivity between Kuarmunda and Nuagaon block and Rourkela city is concerned. Besides it is related with the issuer of solution of drinking water in the steel city, Jagda and Jhirpani.
Similarly on February 23, 2014, the CM had laid the foundation stone
for the Wholesale Market Complex at Balughat, Panposh in Rourkela for facilitating the local farmers, traders and for the betterment of the Rourkela traffic and sanctioned a sum of Rs 98.45 crore. Besides, a project envisaging construction of 50 ultra modern stalls and godowns for paddy procurement equipment at Vedavyas market yard was approved. But the fates of both the projects are in uncertain stage. Even for the expedition of the project works, Ray had several times raised the issue in the Assembly and written letters to the Chief Secretary and the concerned Minister.
Another commitment was made by the Chief Minister. It was on March 4, 2015 when Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had declared the Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar’s second campus at Rourkela to make up for the large scale resentment of the residents over the IIM issue. But till date the assurance of the CM has not translated into action. Rather it is alleged that the XIMB campus declaration was a political game plan of Patnaik to divert attention of the people from the IIM setback.
Besides, in many other issues, the BJD is on the back foot on the issue and would be answerable to the Rourkela people in 2019. In this juncture, if Ray joins the BJD then he would also be answerable to the public as a BJD leader, feel many.