When Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik cast his dice on NDA Presidential pick Ram Nath Kovind, his tryst with the brand of realpolitik was once again popped out to the fore. It is so because the brand of realpolitik depended on flexibility and on the ability to exploit every available option without the constraint of ideology. And Naveen sticking to it faithfully does a cherry picking whenever it suits to his political dynamics.
Notably, dalits form around 17 per cent of Odisha’s population, and the Congress conventionally has a strong dalit base in the State. Moreover, when BJP President nominee Kovind has the numbers on his side, Patnaik readily bought the BJP-led NDA’s ace card of propping up a dalit leader to the seat of top Constitutional position. But the real politick behind is, as political observers feel, Patnaik is trying to hit two birds in one stone by extending the BJD’s support to the NDA nominee.
First, by announcing support within hours of announcement, Patnaik tried to send a strong pro-dalit message not only to hit the Congress’ SC base but at the same time didn’t wish to let the BJP a complete walkover to consolidate its SC base in the State. Because the last panchayat poll statistics show consolidation of the BJP among SC class in the State courtesy the Ujjawala Yojana and its ilk.
In fact, this is not the first show of Patnaik’s ‘real politicks’. He had sailed with the tide of popular sentiment in the country against black money when PM Modi announced demonetisation. Political observers feel this would not be the last as Patnaik would keep supporting the NDA on issues where he feels an NDA decision is on strong pitch in people’s perception.
Moreover, political observers discern quite crystal clearly the adoption of real politicks to the hilt in Patnaik’s decision to side with the NDA on President election because in the same vein Patnaik made his averments clear on continuing with zest the BJD’s ‘political struggle’ against the NDA-led Central Government on its alleged apathy to the State’s interests like special category tag to Odisha, the Mahanadi imbroglio, Central funds, etc. The strategy looks to be what Kautaliya said strike your adversary at its weak points. Patnaik’s strategy, therefore, is to don the son-of-the soil mantle to paint the national parties, Congress and BJP, as an anathema to the State’s aspirations, which the BJD has successfully used to halt Congress progression.
Interestingly, when last time the BJD sponsored late PA Sangma for Presidential post, it harped on his ST bio-data to send a strong message to a whopping 22.9-per cent ST populace in the State. And the fact to be noted is tribals were the core voter base of the Congress in the State traditionally. And this time, the BJD decided to support Kovind in the name of SC, only to draw a full electoral circle (where SC, ST together form over 40 per cent of population) in the State politics.