Hemananda Biswal is not only a senior Congress leader but also was interim Chief Minister twice in 1989 and 1999. But the veteran leader whodefeated BJP’s Jual Oram from Sundargarh Lok Sabha seat in 2009 despite being a native of Jharsuguda district looks not to be very active these days. On the contrary, it is talked that Biswal is planning to promote his daughter in politics and is eyeing her nomination from Sundargarh LS seat in coming polls.
It may be noted here that after becoming the Lok Sabha member in 2009, Biswal was the Chairman of Parliamentary Labour Committee. Despite this he could not convince the Government to establish the proposed ESIC Medical College in Sundargarh district as this is not only a labour density district but also backward from health services point of view.
Besides, though he was an MP of ruling party when UPA was in power in the Centre, Biswal could not bring a single project to the district for which he suffered a debacle in 2014 election.
Not only that, after losing the election, he grew controversial in the party in different times. For a time, even his inclination towards the BJD was talked about. Besides, it was alleged that he was attending various socio cultural programmes at Rourkela involving a particular group of people of Congress without any coordination with the DCC chief and other members. That is why it was alleged that he was promoting groupism in the party unit. Even it is said that he had played a role for the appointment of Rabi Ray as DCC president.
Biswal is now holding the position of chairman, PCC Disciplinary Committee. Jogesh Singh who recently resigned as Sundargarh MLA after being suspended from Congress alleged that Biswal is looking forwardto his daughter’s nomination from the Sundargarh LS seat in the coming elections.
Even Biswal was averse to the joining of Biramitrapur MLA George Tirkey in Congress and so far he is also not comfortable with Tirkey. Tirkey joined Congress with an eye on the Sundragarh Parliament seat for 2019, which is known to everybody.
Recently, during the visit of AICC Secretary Mastan Vali to Sundargarh, Biswal had clarified that there was no problem in promoting his daughter for 2019 elections. Even a question regarding extending support to Tirkey if he gets party ticket, Biswal very casually said, “Who is George? I don’t know.”
So from this, it is clear that Biswal is keenly interested for his daughter’s nomination from Sundargarh LS seat and if she does not get ticket how far Biswal will cooperate in party works only time will say.