Though image makeover scripts destiny in politics, no politician of any worth would ever desire such a makeover wherefrom the pedestal of ‘invincibility’ one transits to a spot of ‘vulnerability’. In the year number three of his historic fourth tenure, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has made him land into such a scenario of ‘makeover’.
Initiating his fourth tenure with the halo of ‘invincibility’ on May 21, 2014 when the country was swept by a Modi wave, the twist to the tale of the BJD juggernaut was quite dramatic when in a span of a mere three years the party got the shock of its life with the BJP stumping it to record a smart win in the panchayat polls. The BJD for the first time saw a drop in its popular vote share.
The panchayat poll data show how the BJP has emerged as a formidable force against the BJD making the TINA (there is no alternative) factor fizzle out in the State politics. The BJD sees its simmering fault lines erupting with many senior leaders, Ministers and party spokespersons publicly questioning the policy craft of the leadership.
From senior Minister Damodar Rout, senior MPs like Bhartruhari Mahtab, Baijayant Panda and Narendra Swain to MlA and spokespersons like Samir Dash have all brought to the public domain the working of a coterie around Naveen Patnaik.
The clinching fact of the Chief Minister’s vulnerability was on display in his recent Ministry reshuffle where instead of making a new beginning, the CM went in for a team where a young set of controversial players were replaced only with an old set of controversial characters. Here lies the catch why Patnaik has become vulnerable in his fourth term.
When aspirational changes have been rocking the country, Patnaik’s approach to State politics and governance have been statusquoist. Though post-panchayat poll snub, he did try to bring some changes in his approach to politics, the fact is they are very much superficial as the demand is for a paradigm change in the approach to governance. And it’s here the BJD and its leadership still looks clueless.