Keeping in view the growth of Rourkela city, the Special Planning Authority was constituted during 1964. Later on, January 26, 1976, it was converted to the Rourkela Regional Improvement Trust (RRIT).
Since the formation of the RRIT, the managing board was headed by the Government authorities but when Biju Patnaik led Government came to power in 1990-95 and Dilip Ray was a powerful man in the Government, for the first time his loyal BD Mishra, a political man, was appointed as its Chairman.
Subsequently, on October 2, 1995, the RRIT was upgraded to the RDA (Rourkela Development Authority) and the State Urban Minister was its Chairman.
Former Bonai MLA Dayanidhi Kissan after being faced disciplinary action by BJP for contesting 2009 Assembly election as an independent candidate while was denied party (BJP) ticket, he joined the BJD. Later during October, 2010, he was rehabilitated as the Chairman, RDA and continued till 2014. That was the first political appointment in RDA as Chairman. After losing the 2014 Assembly election, former State Urban Development Minister Sarada Nayak was too rehabilitated in the post on November 27, 2014 and continued till 2019. After Nayak was elected to the State Assembly in 2019, the post is not yet filled up. Since then, speculation has been going on as to who will be the next RDA Chairperson.
Though aspirants from BJD are lobbying in Bhubaneswar to get the post but three names are doing the rounds. They are youth BJD leader Kuna Behari Das, former Rourkela Municipality Chairperson Rashmibala Mishra and BJD Women wing State vice-president Minati Debta.
Das is holding the position of district convenor of Jivan Bindu and Odisha Mo Parivar. Besides earlier he was the co-observer of the party for Sundargarh district and played an important role during Naveen Patnaik’s last visit to Rourkela on February 16. He has a good acceptance among the youth masses here.
He has also good rapport with a number of influential leaders of the party at Bhubaneswar level. Once upon a time, he was known as the close aide of Rourkela MLA Nayak.That is why months back it was a talk in city that Das will be awarded with RDA Chairman post. But sources said he has a sour relation with Nayak now and RDA Chairman post is the cause of difference between the duo.
Sources said Nayak is not in favour of Das for this post now. Even in many blood donation camps, Das is not seen where Nayak joins. Despite this Das’ close aide claim he will succeed as he has good rapport in Bhubaneswar.
After differences between Das and Nayak the path is open for Rashmibala Mishra, feel many. It is known to all that Nayak was instrumental in making Mishra as the Chairperson of Rourkela Municipality. Mishra was just a beginner in politics and in her first entry she became the Chairperson.
Though she held the position for five years but every important decision in Rourkela Municipality was taken with the knowledge and consent of Nayak. Even it was a talk in the city that Nayak had been operating the Rourkela Municipality passively.
Though Nayak is Mishra’s political mentor but their relations became sour for some years due to certain reasons. Now they have good understanding and it has been seen for last 2-3 months that Nayak is giving importance to Mishra in various political activities. So, her supporter claim that she may be the first choice for Nayak.
So far as Minati Debta is concerned, she is a popular leader and, on many occasions, she has been raising her voice against social stigma. Nayak was also instrumental for her entry to BJD after leaving Congress. But gradually the equation between them worsened due to various political reasons.
Situation became so bad that Debta competed for getting party ticket for Rourkela Assembly seat in 2019. When she did not get the ticket, she filed the nomination as an independent candidate.
However, after intervention of high command, she withdrew. At that time, it was a talk in the city that she is assured for the post of RDA Chairman. But so far neither she is rehabilitated nor the post is filled.