Erstwhile BJD mastermind Pyarimohan Mahapatra had disgustingly said in a television interview, “Sanjay Dasburma is a most horribly despicable character with zero sense of ethics and principles.” This statement seems to be coming true today. Dasburma was a ‘nobody’ until Pyaribabu picked him from the helpless party called the Odisha Gana Parishad floated by ousted BJD leader Bijay Mohapatra.
Dasburma had somehow become a builder. No one knows how he became one and with what and whose backup. like many other unscrupulous businessmen, he too left no stone unturned to make a kill by flouting urban construction rules. He kept the fact hidden even when Pyaribabu rescued him from the garbage yard of politics to induct him into the BJD. He must have used all his guile and questionable skills to impress Pyaribabu that he was a great guy. Thus, he first ditched the already helpless Bijay Mohapatra. Dasburma turned enemy’s enemy and joined the BJD with a bang. Pyaribabu made him a trusted lieutenant and placed him in the State Housing Board, a paradise Dasburma was craving to enter. Fresh investigations would reveal how many friends and relatives he has favoured out of turn. He remained shadow to Pyaribabu, used him to the hilt and became his official soothsayer. A master backbiter, he went on injecting poison against the people he imagined came in his way. Pyaribabu thought Dasburma was a great young man who could work wonders. And wonders did he achieve, though only for himself!
Come the fateful night of May 29, 2012, and this Dasburma was the leading acolyte in alerting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while the latter was in london. Pyaribabu may have erred on conduct, which time would prove; but that Dasburma gave the death blow to Pyari’s deteriorating relationship with Naveen has hurt quite a few thinking people. Dasburma killed his mentor overnight and has never repented for it. Thus, he survived to flourish by bootlicking the boss. But there was quite a murmur about his being the biggest traitor then. Naveen too began to believe that Dasburma was a most marvelous character capable of making impossible things happen.
And Dasburma, now a Minister, is in grave crisis. Probably, God gave the sly guy enough rope to become adequately arrogant so that something good would happen to the people. Pyaribabu had gifted the Brahmagiri constituency and ensured that Dasburma trounced the colossal opponent lulu Mohapatra of the Congress who had become invincible in his constituency, no matter which regime came to rule. Money flowed in Brahmagiri way like water and huge State machinery was put to use to turn Dasburma a victor in 2009, after he had bit dust in the first attempt in 2004. Pyari made him a successful power politician and soon after got stabbed from behind. Dasburma had ditched Bijay Mohapatra when he needed friends most. He turned ‘Brutus’ to Pyari when he needed friends like mad.
Very interestingly, a Ministerial colleague declared in the State Assembly that Dasburma is a tainted builder, now accused and facing trial of some kind. The unrepentant Dasburma says in meek defence that he had severed all relations with the tainted real estate company by 2006. But the fact remains that he had filed nomination in 2004 for MlA. He never mentioned he had a taint on him or his way. That makes him an accused by all means. He timidly told the upright Housing and Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singh Deo that the latter should not divulge such truths as may put the first-time Minister like him to trouble, claiming the information against him was dated. Singh Deo was, however, curt in his reply, saying the officials had placed the facts. He did not create any. Dasburma was cornered with the statement. The Opposition is after his blood. He does not own up blunders and step down until proven super innocent as a doe. His Neelachal Builders Pvt ltd must be scrutinised with a ransack-like search.
More interestingly, the statutory body Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) authorities have informed the media that the information about Dasburma’s so-called resignation from the company reached them only on the June 18, 2014, just two days before the bomb blast in the august Assembly. The Minister then roamed the power-corridors of Delhi to fight for Odisha’s rights and entitlements! The branded clean Chief Minister is urged to take strong note and fling him out where he belongs. He has stabbed two stalwarts from behind. He can stab, shoot and hurl a deadly weapon on the boss in case someone smarter materialises tomorrow. The clean Chief Minister must do the cleansing job without delay to protect the image of the party just beginning to deteriorate. Dasburma must stand up to the principles and step down saying, “I vacate chair to reoccupy only if proven innocent after a thorough scrutiny.”
Further, the clean Chief Minister could come under public pressure for having chosen Anang Udaya Singh Deo, a vanquished person from Balangir. How can such politicians enter the Rajya Sabha after having been proven unpopularIJ The clean BJD boss must not err on selection of candidates for any house of worship. Siddhant is wasting time; Anubhab is expected to waste more time. The ordinary citizens are being burdened heavily for keeping nonperformers happy. Movies are make-believe, never for real. Proven masters are ignored.
Wake up Mr Clean and beware! Wrong gods will spell disaster for the great party you head!
(Biswaraj Patnaik is a freelance writer)