Presently, he is like a restrained Trojan warhorse living in the retrospective reverie of his political exploits and contemplating on his future activities.
He is still active, cheerful and a workaholic, who disposes daily hundreds of visitors not only from his erstwhile Sukinda constituency but also people from all walks of life.
Political observers are of the opinion that he was removed from his Cabinet Ministerial position in September 2014 allegedly for his Machiavellian designs as Naveen Patnaik, being circumspect of friends and foes alike, axed him, his explanations next day to a TV channel notwithstanding. Octogenarian Prafulla Chandra Ghadai with his long political career and repository experience and wisdom is currently a vice-president of the BJD.
He was a prominent student leader and a leading trade unionist. While in the Congress party, he was the PCC general secretary. He opened his innings to the State Assembly in 1967 from the then West Jajpur constituency and was subsequently elected from Sukinda. Thereafter, he had not looked back and was continuously elected for five terms from Sukinda since 1990 till his son Preeti Ranjan worn his boots being elected as an MLA for the third term from the same constituency.
He was a Minister of different departments like Planning and Coordination, Education and Health and Family Welfare and played a long innings as a Finance Minister. An astute politician, he is still ready to assist the BJD supremo in furthering the cause of the party to its advantage if and when all winds shall bring rains to a splendid finale.
In an interview to The Pioneer, Ghadai spoke to Sugyan Choudhury at his residence in Bhubaneswar.
You are a veteran politician in the BJD camp, but yet you have not been adequately compensated with any coveted position after your homecoming.
For everything, there is an age. I am approaching 80. I have played a long innings in politics since in my student days. I have also played a prominent role in many leading trade unions. I entered the State Assembly in 1967 when I was at the age of 25. I have been elected to the Assembly for seven times and I was a Minister for 15 years having dealt with many important departments. Everywhere, I have worked with commitments and utmost sincerity to my full satisfaction. As a student leader, as a trade unionist, as an MLA, as a Minister, I have always tried to come in contact with people who are reeling under acute poverty. I have hoped for them, struggled for them, championed there causes and tried to deliver goods to them to mitigate their sufferings. The satisfaction which I have obtained from such works is the only capital gain to me which gives me solace and comfort at this period of my life. The BJD had kept me away from the mainstream for quite some time. I don’t know why I was away for no fault of mine. They have again brought me back and have given me the position of vice-president. This is not your question but also this is the question raised by many people as to why I am not playing any active role now for the development of the State.
You see, many young talented people of my son’s age are controlling the BJD and running the Government. I sincerely desire that such young and talented men, who have a dream to do something for the State, should continue to be at the helm of affairs. Now, the way the things are moving, I don’t aspire for anything.
Although I am still active and energetic and keep myself busy with hundreds of people daily by solving their problems to the best of my ability, I don’t have any desire for something more. I was with the masses, am with the masses and shall be with the masses till my last breath.
I am supporting the Government under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik for the simple reason that the BJD under Naveenbabu is providing a stable Government, but for which progress, prosperity and plenty for the people of the State could not have been achieved.
A great factor under Naveenbabu’s tenure is that the BJD is providing a stable Government by undertaking various pro-people programmes.
Do you think the Government has reached its final destination?
It is true enough but not having enough of truth. Still, planners and politicians opine that despite Odisha being a rich State in natural wealth, why should there be poverty amidst plenty? We need to do something more for the State’s highly-educated unemployed youths, who still remain idle. These human resources are to be utilised. Some regions are still backward and need to be developed. Regional imbalances are to be nailed. We have still miles to go before we reach an El Dorado for the people.
What’s your observation regarding the present Naveen regime?
The State has catapulted to great heights during Naveenbabu’s regime. Development has been achieved in all spheres. The rates of infant mortality, maternity mortality have been reduced. The literacy rate has gone up. The per capital income has been satisfactorily increased. Look at the economic scenario. The budget has gone up to an enviable reach of 1. 5 lakh crore. The loan burden, all said and done, is within the limits. No reported starvation deaths are there any longer. Investment is a big thing to augment the State revenue in the sphere of industries, mining and metallurgy and the Government is making all-out efforts with investors making a beeline before the Government. The Government is also proactively engaged in development of the agrarian community having formed a sine qua non policy for it. Naveenbabu has become “Aparajeya” (the invincible). The result of the recent Bijepur by-election proved beyond doubt that there is no other second party or leadership acceptable to the State’s people.
Do you feel that the Government by not utilising your services actively is making a simple wastage of your repository wisdom?
That depends on situations and circumstances. The Government is marching ahead. People have reposed their full confidence in the BJD and in the administration. I am happy. If people at the helm of affairs do think that our services are not of bounden necessity then I have no grouse.
Do you think your age is a hindrance for you for politics?
No, certainly not so. You see, today also hundreds of people are at my doorstep for ventilating their grievances and I’m trying to solve their problems. However, I have decided not to go fordirect electoral politics any longer.
How are you concerned for the large-scale depletion of chromite deposits of Odisha?
You know 98 per cent of chromite deposits of the country are in Jajpur Sukinda valley which is already exhausted. But whatever deposits are there in the State, whether it is in Jajpur or Keonjhar, it should not be auctioned to private companies. Chromite is a rare material needed for steelmaking; and the Government should not lease out to private parties. Now, I am happy that the Government is doing in a proactive way through its corporations to earn more dividends, revenues, taxes that will augment the State budgets.
As BJD vice-president, what do you predict about the party’s future after Naveen Patnaik?
Naveenbabu is fully active and is living up to the people’s expectations. In the last by-election, he extensively and intensively toured for days by making roadshows. All is well with him, the Government and the party. Why do you media people bother about the future! The party shall cross the bridge when it comes to it. The future shall take care itself.