No backbiting shall occur in party again
Among the few mass-based politicians enjoying a large network, Niranjan Patnaik probably tops the list. His recent announcement as the president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) has sent a wave of enthusiasm among the rank and file of the party. Gifted with suave manners and possessed with a streak of Machiavellian erudition, Patnaik has an added advantage to face any challenge and bring it to his party’s benefit. Elected from Ramchandrapur to the 8th, 9th, 11th and 13th Odisha legislative Assembly, he has come out with sanguine success in the acid test of his political career. He was the PCC president from 2011 to 13 and the mantle has now fallen over his head for a second time. He was a Cabinet Minister in the JB Pataink regime from 1980 to 85. Hope seems to tell a flattering tale in the ears of the hitherto disillusioned State Congress workers for which they are now making a vow to stage a comeback to power. The PCC office in Bhubaneswar today resembles like a large beehive with jostling crowds vying against one another to merge and mingle among themselves in an unprecedented spirit of camaraderie and brotherhood. In an interview to The Pioneer, quoting some famous lines Patnaik spoke to Sugyan Choudhury, “The greatest glory of life lies not in never falling but rising every time you fall.” He believes that the Congress like the eternal bird Phoenix shall rise triumphant from its ashes and shall certainly prove itself as an invincible and impregnable fortress in the days ahead.
What’s your mission now after you have been declared as the PCC presidentIJ
First of all, I must thank Congress workers, leaders and sympathisers for whose persistent demand RahuljI has made me the PCC president at a trying time. It is my primary duty to unite all party workers and take the advice of all our leaders so as to bring back the Congress to a respectable form and position. I must admit that we are in a difficult time. We must work to fulfil the desires of and demands of our poor people. There is no reason as to why Odisha should be poor. It is due to the inertia, withdrawal, passivity and acceptance of the present State Government that the Central Govt. is maintaining a lackadaisical attitude to our State. We Odias are also to blame. If some Government whether in the State or at the Centre does a little favour to us like the charity of a miser, we feel happy. We forget that it is our right to avail all sorts of basic needs. You see the problem of unemployment in our State is acute. The dalits and tribals are neglected; farmers are languishing. We must try to change the scenario as never before and must redeem the lots of the poor and deprived sections of people. We must act; and act to change the fortunes of our people.
Whom do you target now, BJP or BJDIJ
It is certainly both. This is because people say we are in the third position right now. Hence, we must have to aim our guns at both BJP and BJD.
The Congress high command initially appoints a PCC president, who in his turn appoints other party functionaries. But this time, the high command has appointed the key functionaries and declared you as president. How do you feel comfortable to carry all these leaders withIJ
I am sure I will make smooth sailing with all of them by taking into account all their advices and consultations. A single man can never do all the things. I am glad that all of them have come forward to join hands with me and are ready to take responsibilities commensurate with their abilities and experiences. I do not possess Aladdin’s Magic lamp. All I have to do is to carry with me the youths and the old, the women leaders and the dalits, the brilliant and the wise, the aggressive and the subtle all in one embrace of bonhomie in order to rejuvenate the Congress applecart.
Do you think that the Congress shall now be free from its internecine squabbles, leg-pulling and backbitingIJ
No such things shall occur again. If justice is done and the party functions democratically placing right man at the right place then I assure that such things shall never repeat themselves.
Do you think that in 2019 you will become CM as per the calculations of some of your party leadersIJ
Please don’t ask me such a question; ask me if the Congress will come back in full swing to power or not. There are many to take decisions in this regard. If I say so, I must be wrong.
Amit Shah has said the BJP will get 120+ seats in the 2019 election. The BJD believes to maintain its position intact. What do you think should be your tally at the minimumIJ
This is too early to comment. As BJD and BJP hope to maintain their strength, we must also compete in the same way, but the way we have performed and behaved with our people, we must try to improve it in a better way. The Congress shall improve if all the stakeholders decide to do so by amending their past ways. The people of Odisha are the best judges on this count. If they feel that the present Government has become nonfunctional over the last 18 years of their rule in delivering them justice and in meeting their demands, they shall certainly bring about a change. In the changed scenario, why can’t we expect to be as near as 85IJ However, it is left only to time for the truth to dawn upon, but I assure you that the Congress will be on the side of truth, justice and fair play.
What is your party’s stand on the Mahanadi water disputeIJ
You see this is a problem created by our State Government owing to their gross negligence and ignorance. This problem originated in the year 2006; and in 2011 a Secretary in the State Government said that if there were hundred such projects in Chhattisgarh, it would not affect Odisha and the Mahanadi. They also remained absent when concerned meetings took place at the Centre. Our State Government officers were fed with this information and were making revelry in their ignorance. Now, the our State Government is shedding crocodile tears to hoodwink the gullible people of Odisha after disconnecting their life line Mahanadi and by turning Odisha into a large desert. We also expected justice from the BJP Government at the Centre, but they in turn are hand in glove with the Chhattisgarh Government to deprive the people of Odisha.
What should be your party’s line of action on the impeachment motion against the Chief Justice of India who happens to be from OdishaIJ
This is a problem created by the Government of India. I have strong hopes that the problem will be solved before it precipitates. I have great respect for the Supreme Court; and let the law of the land take its own course.