Shree Jagannath did not ultimately bless master sculptor Raghunath Mohapatra in his political foray despite his persistent invocation of the lord’s mercy to win the race for a Rajya Sabha seat.
It is another matter, however, that several observers questioned such an oft-repeated emotional appeal in the name of Odisha’s presiding deity as if no other Rajya Sabha poll candidate deserved the lord’s blessings! It was Mohapatra’s decision to contest in the election, which was a political process, and it was the responsibility of his sponsor, none else than BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, to ensure his victory, these observers opine. Now, Mohapatra regrets that it was not Shree Jagannath’s wish that he won!