ASpeculations are rife over PCC president Niranjan Patnaik contesting from the Rourkela Assembly consttuency.
Patnaik’s sudden visit to Rourkela has not only made many to speculate like this but also brought a twist in the mission of social activist Muktikanta Biswal who was sitting on a fast since Gandhi Jayanti in front of the Ispat General Hospital (IGH) in demand of an IGH Medical College as promised by Prime Minister Modi four years back and construction of barrage over river Koel, the foundation-stone of which was laid by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seven years ago.
Niranjan Patnaik reached Rourkela by air on Wednesday. Though his tour was for four hours only, it had many political twists. From the Rourkela airstrip, he went in a motorcycle rally to garland the Gopabandhu statue near Ambagan; and from there, he reached Muktikanta.
He told Muktikanta and his aide Gopal Jena that both BJP and BJD are anti-people and assured that once the Congress comes to power, their demands would be fulfilled without delay. He then requested then to break their fast.
So far, not any representatives from the State or Central Government had visited the fasting duo to plead for ending their hunger strike; on the contrary, the RSP authorities were vindictive towards them.
The decision of launching the fast and finally calling it off with the approach of the PCC chief smacks of a political game plan, feel many.
While BJP and BJD leaders here are showing apathy towards the local issues, the PCC chief coming all the way from Bhubaneswar to back Muktikanta and his associate is considered a significant move by the Congress. PCC working president Chiranjibi Biswal was with Patnaik. The Rourkela Congress unit has many factions and it would be difficult to unite it. Even that was openly admitted by the PCC chief while addressing party workers. Replying to a media question as to who the Congress would make the MLA candidate from Rourkela in the coming polls, Patnaik significantly retorted, “Am I not a suitable candidate for Rourkela?”
When Patanik took over the charge of PCC chief six months back, there was also a talk that he would be candidate from Rourkela because it would be a safe seat for him. Besides, the sitting BJP MLA Dilip Ray here is not in good relation with his party and his future political career is considered uncertain.