A veteran politician, a former five-time MlA and a former Minister, Bishnu Charan Das still holds his sway among the electorate and among the BJD rank and file in his Jagatsinghpur constituency though defeated in the last elections. He is endeared to the masses for his lack of prevarications, absence of pusillanimity and his prompt public services. His defeat this time has not deterred his indomitable spirit and he is still seen working day in and day out in his constituency. In an interview to The Pioneer, he spoke to Sugyan Choudhury on many issues.
How were you attracted to a political careerIJ
In 1970-71, Bijubabu severed himself from the Congress party and formed a provincial party called Utkal Congress. He had organised a State-level workers’ conference at Balichandrapur in the undivided Cuttack district which I attended. Then came the 1971 byelection when I strongly engaged myself propagating for the party. Bijubabu had lost from five places and a coalition Ministry was formed with Biswanath Das as Chief Minister. Our party stalwarts like late Pratap Mohanty, Prahllad Mallick and Sarat Kar got berths in the Ministry.
Again in 1974, I had taken part in the election campaign. In 1975, Indira Gandhi had declared Emergency when Nandini Satpathy was the Chief Minister in Odisha. A good number of leaders like Dr HK Mahtab, Biju Patnaik, Biswanath Pandit, Pratap Mohanty were arrested and we all student masses rose to rebellion under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan. In 1977, a new Janata party Government came to power at the Centre under the leadership of Moraji Desai and our Utkal Congress merged with the Janata Party. I was associated with Bijubabu in all those years from my student career.
How were you initiated into active BJD politicsIJ
In 1980, a student movement raised its head in western Odisha out of the inhuman atrocities perpetrated upon a group of students by a business community of the Khetarajpur. I took the lead in eastern Odisha. At the same time, at Biridi in my constituency a journalist’ wife, Chhabirani, was gangraped and murdered by a group of Congress hoodlums. I was then a third-time elected president of SVM College Students’ Union. I protested against Congress misrule so much so that all the people had appreciation for my courage and conviction.
When I concluded my annual college function with Biju Patnaik, Kuldip Nayar and Dr Sreeramchandra Dash, Bijubabu advised me to contest the 1980 elections from Jagatsinghpur on the model of Assam Gana Parishad headed by Prafulla Mohanta and Bhrugu Fukan. I humbly declined the offer and, instead, requested him to give me a chance in the 1985 elections. Meanwhile, Indira Gandhi was assassinated and there was a pro-Congress sympathy wave across the country for which I lost the election. In 1977, I had earned a niche for myself being arrested under the NSO (National Security Ordinance) as a freethinking rebellious student leader. In 1990, when I contested the election, I had a resounding victory by a lead over 25,000 votes. Thereafter, I never looked back. I won consecutively for the fifth time till I was defeated in 2014 by a small margin.
Why did you lose the electionIJ
I lost narrowly. The reason was simple. The district administration had started demolishing the houses of the people to beautify the town (Jagatsinghpur). I had not objected to it. But the people of the town nourished a secret grudge against me and that went against me.
What was the most memorable period of your Assembly careerIJ
I would like to mention the period from 1990-95 as the most important of my political life. There were no conflicts, no riots, no tension. I worked hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder with people. It was during this period that I demanded a separate district status for Jagatsinghpur since it was kept under Kendrapada. I threatened to relinquish my seat to join the movement with the people, and Bijubabu finally declared Jagatsinghpur as a separate district owing to its social, cultural, spiritual and freedom movement significance. He also remembered the Paradip Port, his brainchild, now in Jagatsinghput district. On April 3, 1993, Bijubabu went to Jagatsinghpur town and declared a separate district. The joy of our people knew no bounds. In 1995, I won once again. When Bijubabu became the leader of Opposition, I was the only MlA from the district. In 1997, Bijubabu passed away and we were orphaned.
How did you first come in contact with Naveenbabu and established your rapport with himIJ
Naveenbabu descended on April 17, 1997 when Bijubabu had left this world. We saw him along with the sea of humanity making their way to Puri, the final resting place where the road ends for heaven. We discovered then why the Naveen Nivas was so named. On December 26, 1997, he became the president of BJD. I had advocated for the formation of a provincial party named after Bijubabu with conch shell as its symbol. Accordingly, the BJD was registered with the Election Commission of India, and Naveenbabu after being elected as an MP became a Union Minister. In 1999, when the Super Cyclone visited Odisha, I informed him over phone and he came two days after.
At that time, Giridhar Gamang was the CM. The Congress rank and file were busy taking part in the tarpaulin and polythene scam. But Naveenbabu visited personally the storm-ravaged places like Ersama, Balikuda, Kujang, Biridi, Jagatsinghpur, and with the active help of Chandrabhanu Naidu, CM of Andhra Pradesh helped in restoring normalcy in the State. In 2000, Naveenbabu came to Odisha and held the reins, and till now we find him rendering yeoman’s job for the people of our State. He has been trying to shape the oil refinery, Posco, ESSAR Steel and other mega industries at Paradip.
What about the chit fund-tainted politicians in your BJDIJ
You know Naveenbabu believes in transparency and clean administration. Anyone found guilty and held so in a court of law will be shown the door by the CM. His life both personal and national is an outstanding example of transparency and honesty.
Some political observers believe elections may happen before 2019. How do you feel about thisIJ
Take the example of Kandhamal. Deceased Hemendra Singh’s wife got elected with a massive mandate, more than what her husband had got. let the elections be held at any point of time, the message of Naveenbabu has been carried too deep into the villages and among the rural poor to be negated in the event of an election. Naveenbabu will come again in thumping majority throwing all permutations and combinations of the opposition leaders to the wind.