Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik felt uneasy during delivering his speech at the Independence Day function in Bhubaneswar. He had to immediately leave for the Naveen Niwas. Even as his sudden sickness set off speculations about the real state of his health, a hot topic over last few years, the CM this time like earlier was on a denial mode. So were his party colleagues and his residential office.
later on the day, talking to mediapersons, Patnaik said he was fine. But already the officials were on their toes when the CM felt giddiness, perspired profusely and trembled. His voice turned lean and he struggled to complete his speech. He was escorted to a chair where he rested for a few minutes.
No sooner did the news spread than a team of doctors from the Capital Hospital rushed to the Naveen Niwas to conduct a check-up. However, the Navin Niwas sources clarified that there were no complications and the CM could not tolerate humidity for which he felt uneasy. His party colleagues too said there was nothing to worry. later, Patnaik attended all the programmes as per schedule. Thus, he indicated that he was fit and fine.
Interestingly, the health condition of Patnaik has generated much curiosity among the public, more so when the CM himself and his party have been exuding confidence that nothing has happened. Besides, more than his party, Patnaik has been under fire of his opponents. The situation has arisen when Patnaik has made his party too centralised giving an impression that the BJD depends solely on Patnaik for its survival and not vice versa. As a result, it is clear that as long as Patnaik is alive and kicking, the BJD continues to earn votes.
Other leaders in the BJD just bask in Patnaik's glory and their presence or absence in the party makes no difference. Surely, for this there is always a sense of insecurity among the lower rung leaders who do not know when they are not in the boss’s good book and the axe falls on them. It is due to his pre -eminence that Patnaik is everything to the BJD and his health issue is crucial. In the past, there have been talks that Patnaik could retire from politics and replace him with a kin, may be his sister or nephew. Thus when his sister or nephew called on Patnaik, the BJD politics used to grow hot.
Another important part of Patnaik's health issue is how it matters to his political opponents. Certainly, though other parties do not give any view on this, they watch the development with fingers crossed. For the last 18 years Patnaik, has remained unchallenged to them. He has been the longest-serving CM so far in Odisha and has scripted stories of the rise and fall of many politicians in all these years. Whenever he has sensed threat from anyone, he has dealt with him sternly. He has elevated his close confidants in good times, but at the slightest doubt on their loyalty, he stripped them of everything, very mercilessly.
Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, once his eyes and ears, whom he dealt with very ruthlessly after the alleged coup incident, could not come clean of the charge till his death. Many stalwarts in Odisha politics lost their sheen and had to pass into wilderness during these years.
Despite many allegations of scam against his Government, Patnaik has got no significant jolt. Hence, his likely retirement from politics due to health reasons is surely to have a big impact.
The BJP has projected Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as its Odisha face; and by now, Pradhan has emerged a top contender to the CM post. Meanwhile, the Congress has signalled of a turnaround in its State unit to give a tough challenge to the BJD. MP Ranjib Biswal created ripples by saying that a new PCC chief has already been chosen by his party high command. He said, "Krishna had already taken birth on the Janmastami," while reacting to a question on the ongoing row over PCC leadership change.