Observers feel one of defeated BJD veterans may be rehabilitated
As the WODC Chairperson Padmini Sekhar Deo resigned on Monday in a hurry, speculation is rife over the appointment of her successor here.
Deo had been appointed to the post on October 17, 2011 and her tenure was supposed to end on October 16, 2016. The reason behind her sudden resignation 28 months before is yet to be confirmed. However, she said that she did it on call of the Chief Minister.
In the last general elections, though BJD had a landslide victory, but many of party stalwarts lost unexpectedly. So political observers feel Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik may rehabilitate AU Singh Deo or Prasanna Acharya. Acharya’s claim for the post looks stronger than Singhdeo because the former is a dynamic leader who lost the last election by a thin margin. Besides, Singhdeo despite being a close friend of Patnaik may not fit the bill, given the travelling nature of the job and his ill health.
Also former Rourkela MlA Sarada Nayak is seen as another top contender for the post. Patnaik may try his best to strengthen BJD in Sundergarh after party’s dismal performance in the district in the last polls. Patnaik’s key rival Dilip Ray has won the Rourkela Assembly seats.
Similarly, in Sundargarh Parliament seat, Patnaik’s blue eyed boy Dilip Tirkey also lost the polls. Rival Jual Oram not only won but is enlarging his stature after becoming a Union Minister. So, Patnaik would certainly think of a BJD man who can take the lead to strengthen the party in Sundargarh in particular and in western Odisha in general and simultaneously can give a befitting political challenge to Ray and Oram.
It is in this light that Patnaik may choose Nayak for the covetous post of WODC chief. Except the May 29, 2012 incident, nothing is wrong with Nayak for Patnaik.