More than the opposition, specially BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmedra Pradhan and leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra (Congress), it is BJD vice-president and Minister Damodar Rout who has in effect appeared as a demolisher of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s image.
In the latest instance, while speaking on his Cooperation Department’s performance in the State Assembly on Monday, Rout hit the Chief Minister where it perhaps pains him most.
Rout decried the rising influence of the bureaucracy in the administration, which is a major point of criticism against Patnaik. Dharmendra Pradhan and other BJP leaders have even targeted the bureaucrats at the Third Floor (Chief Minister’s Office) for allegedly interfering in the process of the recent panchayat elections.
Rout said in the Assembly, to the glee of the Opposition, that he has become a “helpless and inefficient” Minister as the officers of his department rule the roost ignoring him.
What Rout said is believed to be true; and he also had earlier made similar remarks against the bureaucrats’ stranglehold in the administration with resultant belittling of the Ministers’ positions. But what has been surprising observers is whether he has drawn CM Patnaik’s attention to this and why he has been stomaching the officers’ humiliation without quitting the Cabinet to save his dignity.
In fact, Rout is known as a leader who always poses as holier-than-thou in the ruling party. A loudmouth, he has been vocally at loggerheads with younger BJD leaders, including Ministers, even over minor issues. An example is his regular tirades against Bishnu Das, whom he opposes in politics in their native Jagatsinghpur district, despite the fact that Das is a favourite of Naveen Patnaik.
Rout, while passing derisive remarks about Bishnu Das’ competence for his recent appointment as the State Planning Board Vice-Chairman, effectively questioned Naveen Patnaik’s decision for Das’ elevation. He forgot that while the BJD had an impressive victory in the panchayat polls in Jagatsinghpur district as a whole, the BJP made inroads in his own constituency.
Interestingly, the babbler politician Rout is a darling of the media, particularly electronic, as he is ever-ready to burst out off-the-cuff statements on any issue under the sun.
Political watchers look forward to the fate of Rout in the upcoming reshuffle in the Patnaik Ministry. Many think that despite his role in denigrating the image of the party and its supremo, Rout would retain his berth if Patnaik feels weak in the emerging changed scenario in which the BJP poses a strong challenge to the BJD.