Even as the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Government completed the first year of its record consecutive fourth term on May 21, its enigmatic Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik does not have a viable opponent to outsmart him in the next elections. Beating the long-incumbency factor, he continues to stride the State’s political scene like a real colossus.
This is despite a series of scams and instances of maladministration witnessed particularly during the last one year of the prolonged Patnaik rule. Myriad welfare schemes were announced with fanfare and displayed in full-page advertisements with Naveen Patnaik appearing as the saviour of the hapless sections of the State’s population. Yet, Odisha’s poverty graph remains appalling.
Poverty-stricken people from across Odisha continue to migrate to other States for livelihoods, with many of them exploited and cheated at brick kilns and other workplaces. Poverty forces parents to sell babies for a few thousand rupees which reminds of the situation, particularly in undivided Kalahandi district in the 1980s during the Congress rule, which made big news then and shook the conscience of the civilised world. To Naveen Patnaik’s fortune, the issue, though multiplied in numbers now, is not highlighted in a manner that would compel the Government to address it with all seriousness.
Poverty drives one loan-burdened farmer after another to commit suicide. Ironically, the Government gloats over the Krishi Karmani Award, though given by the Centre in the B class State category, with the Government spending huge money in big media advertisements carrying the Chief Minister’s smiling picture.
Unemployment pushes an increasing number of youths to the crime world, which is evident from the daily occurrences of murders, loots, thefts and other crimes. Bhubaneswar has also turned as the State crime capital despite the city having a Commissionerate police system. Crimes against women have been multiplying across the State. Reports of minor girls becoming unwed mothers in tribal school hostels are galore.
Corruption rules the roost at every Government establishment. Nothing moves without bribe being paid. This is notwithstanding the slogan of a transparent administration headed by a clean Chief Minister! The Government harps on shortcut, expedient populist approaches, the latest being the Rs 20-Aahar scheme for the poor in five cities. like the earlier Re 1-rice distribution, such schemes do not aim at ending the all-round poverty scenario; or rather, they perpetuate poverty. Filling the begging bowl, instead of eradication of beggary, seems to be very rewarding in political, nay electoral, terms.
If elections are won in a back-to-back series, what’s the use of getting at the hearts of the issues with an objective to rid the population of povertyIJ After all, poverty begets votes for a beggar-appeasing ruling dispension! But whatever his critics say, Naveen Patnaik marches on as the towering leader which his father Biju Patnaik was not able to do in term of winning elections. If victory at polls is the parameter, Naveen is the most popular Chief Minister of Odisha.
Considering the political realities today, Naveen Patnaik is set to continue his rule as long as he is physically fit to do so. The Congress, which is the much weaker second party, may take a long time to revive its fortunes. The new Pradesh Congress president Prasad Harichandan, though a leader of clean image, is yet to infuse the much-needed dynamism into the party.
The BJP, which was expected to emerge as a real contender of the BJD in view of the Narendra Modi popularity factor in the country, is, as discussed in this column often, has failed to cash in on this account in Odisha due to the party high command’s hobnobbing with Naveen Patnaik. There is no gainsaying that the BJP would grow in the State only when it goes whole hog against the Patnaik-led BJD regime. However loudly the BJP State leaders shout against Patnaik, they would not gain people’s confidence as long as their national bosses continue to be chummy with him.
In fact, the chit fund and mining scams were perceived as the signs of the beginning of an end to the Patnaik Government. But the ruling BJP top guns at the Centre appear to have their own designs to help out the Chief Minister. The CBI investigation into the chit fund affairs, especially in the matter of probe into the ruling politicians’ role, has stopped. And as for the mining scam, the Centre has openly said ‘no’ to a CBI inquiry even if the much-hyped Shah Commission has precisely recommended for such a probe.
So, Naveen Patnaik is here to stay on.