State Cong may get new chief soon
The faction-ridden Odisha Congress is all set get its new PCC chief soon. A three-member committee appointed by Congress high command Sonia Gandhi accompanied by AICC general secretary and Odisha in-charge BK Hariprasad met DCC presidents and chiefs of different fronts of the party in Bhubaneswar to recommend a new incumbent after meeting the senior party leaders, party MlAs, former MlAs, MPs andparty candidates of 2014 lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The DCC presidents would also meet the observers to put forth their views. Meanwhile, the Congress MlAs have decided to meet them in a group and not individually in support of former party president Niranjan Patnaik. With the present incumbent Prasad Harichandan ruled out for a second term, the other frontrunner Bhakta Charan Das, who claims to have a strong backing of Rahul Ganhi, is likely to garner the support of the organizational wing. Even as some MlAs are tilted towards Das, the followers of Narsingh Mishra would surely put a spoke. Das can gain some margin in his favour if Jharsugada MlA Naba Das throws his weight behind the former Railway Minister. But a close ally of former Minister Jagannath Pattnaik, Naba Das would not allow Das to further consolidate his position in Kalahandi. Another weak point for Das is that he migrated from the erstwhile Janata Dal and bears the black spot of a ‘party hopper’.
BJP suffers Nuapada, Deogarh defeats
After pushing the Congress to the third slot in the panchayat polls, the BJP was expected to further consolidate its vote bank. But, in the intermediary elections, the party suffered humiliating defeats, first in Nuapada ZP election and then in the election for two wards of Deogarh urban body where BJP candidates had to bite the dust. Nuapada is represented by State BJP president Basanta Kumar Panda and it was a shocking defeat not only for him but also for the party. Similarly, despite being represented by BJP MlA Nitish Gangdeb, a member of the erstwhile royal family, and a high pitched campaign, the BJP candidates lost to the BJD. Former BJP MlA of Deogarh Subhas Panigrahi attributed the win to money power used by the BJD which is not unfounded. Former Minister Sarada Nayak said, “We were expecting victory in one out of two but the local BJP MlA’s image has nosedived to such an extent that it became smooth sailing for the BJD in both the wards”. These defeats have demoralized the workers of the BJP in the western Odisha belt and the hangover is likely to continue till the scheduled visit of Amit Saha to the State in September. It is perhaps after his visit, the BJP juggernaut will start rolling with full steam again.
Wise Dilip Ray’s useful lessons
Unplanned slums in cities have not only caused communication, sewerage and drainage problems but also affected the aesthetic look of the cities. Against this backdrop, the decision of the State Government to provide land and property rights to urban slum dwellers assumes critical significance. The land right will empower the poor genuine slum dwellers but the way the decision has been hurried through the ordinance route just before the Monsoon Session of the Assembly, it smacks of an election plank. With these ordinances, the CM has perhaps blown bugle for the next urban body election. Rourkela BJP MlA Dilip Ray has cautioned the Government against misuse of land rights for urban slums. While welcoming the Government’s move for setting up urban poor welfare fund for redevelopment and upgradation of slums, Ray said the Government should be circumspect while deciding eligibility criteria of beneficiaries and choice of places for the new settlements so that it does not interfere with future development projects. One can understand this reaction of Ray who is possibly one of the top notch politicians of the State who lived through the vote bank of slum dwellers. He has not only encouraged them to encroach upon Government land but also developed unauthorized colonies to settle them. The area grown around ‘Kalyani’ his residential building up to Hanuman Vatika is a living example. A past master in encouraging slum dwellers to grab railway land, Ray no doubt has rich experience to caution the Government.
Malnutrition deaths again in Nagada
Almost a year after the child malnutrition exposure, the hilly tribal clusters Nagada in Jajpur district gets bus connectivity for its people to commute to the State capital. Even after the new facility to travel by a private bus which has rolled down, the Government’s apathy to address other concerns of livelihood, let alone supply of nutritious food to the children suffering from nutrition, continues. Nagada village had reported death of 20 children due to malnutrition within three months last year. Around dozen children in Nagada village, located on Sukinda valley are suffering from malnutrition despite the tall claims of mitigating the plight of people there. Meanwhile, three more children have died and the last victim was Manasi who died on July 21 due to malaria. Death of the children earlier had sparked an outrage in the country after the issue was widely covered in the media. The village was buzzed with activities thereafter but all initiatives proved meaningless after the fresh toll of three children. The Jajpur district administration is said to be planning to set up a medical research centre soon but will it provide guarantee for no such death in the village and ensure a fool proof PDS systemIJ A motor friendly road ready six months back and a private bus now, what nextIJ The ruling party is already on the election mode. Will the Government resolve all the issues of Nagada before 2019 electionIJ