Has to solve long list of contentious issues in S’garh
Jual Oram, who won as the sole BJP MP from Odisha, got a Cabinet berth in the Narendra Modi Government ending all speculations.
The 53-year-old tribal leader wrested back his Sundargarh constituency, despite a massive wave in favour of Naveen Patnaik-led BJD which got 20 of the State’s 21 lok Sabha seats. Oram had lost the seat in 2009 elections.
He defeated former India hockey captain Dilip Tirkey of the BJD and former Chief Minister Hemanand Biswal of Congress. Even his first entry to the State Assembly in 1990 was marked by an adverse situation. While the whole State was mad after Biju Patnaik-led Janata Dal, Oram had won with a remarkable margin of votes. The late Chief Minister had once said, “Jual you are really a jewel.” Since then he has never looked back.
He is known as a firebrand leader, a strong critic of Naveen Patnaik and his stand on Posco and other tribal issues. Even during the BJD-BJP coalition Government in State, he dared to criticise the wrong works and decisions of the State Government vehemently and shot into limelight when he hit out at Naveen Patnaik on handing over the Khandadhar hills to South Korean company Posco for mining iron ore for its steel project in Jagatsinghpur district.
Now, the real acid test for Oram would be the same Khandadhar issue. The locals are dead against the mining project on the green hills and are highly optimistic that Oram as a Minister would continue to stand by them in times ahead.
The BJD Government with a brute majority in the House would by any means try to get through the project. Considering the potential of the Posco project, even the BJP- led NDA Government may not be averse to its hassle-free establishment. If the Central Government gives its nod for the biggest FDI project, what would be Oram’s standIJ It would surely put him in a difficult position then.
Besides, Oram may get a tough challenge to meet the expectations of Sundargarh people pertaining to railway. For many years, the people of the district have been crying over apathy shown on the development of railway sector. The two main demands are early completion of Talcher-Bimlagarh train line and bringing Rourkela under the East Coast Railway, which is presently under the jurisdiction of the South East Railway. The demand for more trains from or through Rourkela to different cities is also a long pending demand. Earlier, Oram and his party have extended support to these demands.
Another challenge facing Oram is job and livelihood issue of the inhabitants of Koira region. On direction of the Supreme Court, the mining activities have come to a standstill rendering thousands unemployed. The row over establishment of the ESIC Medical College and Hospital at Rourkela is still on. The BJP had supported the demand of the people of the steel city and had participated in several demonstrations earlier.
It is well known that Sundargarh is a scheduled district and PESA is enforceable here. But on many occasions the law was violated deliberately to safeguard the interest of industry owners by the State Government and local administration.
Now being a tribal leader and a Union Minister, it would be a big challenge for him to enforce the law rigidly here. Hence, time will say how Oram meets all the challenges and continues to win the confidence of the electorate.