Eviction drive in R’kela: Dilip’s balancing act
During his last visit to Rourkela, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha had announced laying of a 3rd railway track from Rourkela to Jharsuguda. Considered an ambitious project of the Railway Ministry, the line is commercially viable and is expected to generate handsome revenue for the Chakradharpur division, but electoral politics stand as hurdles on the way. Now hundreds of families with residential houses in between Basanti Colony and Malgodown road are opposing the project under the leadership of local MlA Dilip Ray. They oppose the notified eviction of the dwellers within 85 feet range of the existing track. Reduction of the width by some feet will perhaps save a number of residents from demolition. Both Ray and Union Tribal Affairs Minister and Sundargarh MP Jual Oram have delayed the demolition drive in the name of negotiating with the railway authorities. But this could have been discussed and finalized before the project was announced at a public meeting in Rourkela where Ray was present. Rourkela for long has been developed as a city of unauthorized occupants because of the political leaders who have always encouraged them to grab Government land and then demand for rehabilitation with alternative arrangement. Going to be the largest eviction drive after the Rourkela Steel Plant was set up in the late 50s, those who lived in Khumbharpada colony, Haripur colony, Ambedkar Colony, FCI colony, Gangadhar colony, Rajiv colony, Gajapati pali, Trinath basti and Khariabahal colony have now taken to the streets. But Ray is cleverly doing a balancing act so that BJP’s vote bank remains intact and the railway project is also not affected.
KKD jittery about new outfit
Nine years after its formation, the Kosal Krantgi Dal (KKD), as a political party which claimed to be the only alternative for the people of western Odisha, has failed to stand up to the expectations. It has not been able to win even a Sarpanch, let alone an MlA or MP seat. For this you can blame all but not its leader Pramod Mishra who is an impeccable perfectionist. Because he is a man from Bolangir where the feudal perception of ‘king can do no wrong’ attitude still prevails and now, when a parallel organization in the shape of a new political outfit is being floated, there the KKD is jittery. Attempts are being made now to call back all the beleaguered leaders for a tete-a-tete and assuage their hurt feelings. Of them the belligerent ones are being given special attention for which a committee has been formed. The committee is said to have been appointed to oversee the Panchayat election and simultaneously make an endeavor for return of the prodigals. Meanwhile, there is already a spilt, with one faction keeping safe distance from the party which has become toothless after surrendering before a despotic leader. With its headquarters at Rourkela, a new political party is going to be born soon. It is said that since ideology remains unchanged, there is no conflict of interest between the two. So, more is merrier.
Rural polls: BJP, Cong to fight for slot 2
The BJP had won 36 zilla parishad seats in the three-tier panchayat election held in 2012. But the BJP’s target for 200 zilla parishad seats this time seems to be unrealistic. It is likely that BJP may be successful in pushing Congress into the third place as neither Congress nor BJP is a contestant for the numero uno position as fight amongst them is for the 2nd position. The Congress won 128 zilla parishad seats in 2012 but its vote percentage is down by 6.79 in 2014 general election as compared to 2009, whereas BJP has achieved 6 per cent growth during the same period in its vote share. For BJP leaders, the 2017 panchayat elections are the semi-final before the 2019 general election. As it targets less than 25 per cent of the total zilla parishad seats, the BJP has already conceded defeat to the BJD and the semi final is eventually against Congress. Despite all odds, the Congress got 26 per cent vote in 2014 general election and that is considered its base vote. Confronted with such a situation, BJP’s target seems to be unachievable. Unless a strong Modi factor sweeps across the State as a fallout of the recent surgical strikes to combat infiltration of terrorists and laundering of black money from across the border, the mission 200 will remain unsuccessful. The prospect of winning the semi final, however, looks bright against a stiff challenge from the Congress which has its traditional vote base in rural Odisha provided the BJP makes a dent into the rural votes.
longest serving CM without successor
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is normally seen delivering his speech in Odia with the help of a chit provided to him by his officials using English alphabets. And, when he speaks before the media, his statements are crisp and to the point. But he took the media by surprise while speaking at a literary meet organized recently by a daily newspaper in the State capital. In reply to questions of veteran scribe Prabhu Chawla, the CM was vocal on many subjects of interest which was a surprise for his followers, let alone the mediapersons. The most interesting comment he made was about his political successor. “I have not groomed anybody as my successor. The people of the State will think about it when time will come”. Whether he has intentionally not groomed or there is none worth it is a million dollar question. On Odisha’s changed image, Patnaik said the State’s image has changed and starvation has become a story of the past. Admitting failures like Posco, Patnaik said, “That’s because the Centre changed its policies of allotting mines.” It’s fine Mr Chief Minister! But what about the series of child deaths due to malnutrition and JE vis-a-vis a total collapse of the health sector performanceIJ Do you have any explanationIJ