The entry of popular cine actor Akash DasNayak into the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has spelt uncertainties for the prospects of senior party leader and former Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai and his son Priti Ranjan Ghadai getting party tickets to contest elections this time again.
BJD sources said Akash may cost the ticket of either Ghadais. While the elder Ghadai represents the Sukinda Assembly constituency,
his son is the MlA of the Korei seat, both in Jajpur district. BJD boss Naveen Patnaik is unlikely to nominate both this time, the sources said.
If Akash is chosen as the candidate for either seat, it may come as a rude shock for the Ghadais for more than one reason. Prafulla Ghadai is an old rival of Akash’s father Mayadhar Nayak in the political and trade union arenas in Jajpur district.
Despite the fact that Mayadhar Nayak is a sworn political enemy of Prafulla Ghadai, the induction of Akash into the BJD by Naveen Patnaik at the instance of several young leaders of the party points to the further decline of Ghadai in the party’s rank, say political observers.
Prafulla Ghadai, who was Finance Minister, was dropped from the Patnaik Cabinet soon after the alleged coup attempt by Pyarimohan Mohapatra against Patnaik’s leadership in May 2012.