After the news that BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik has given a green signal to replace Ashish Chakraborty, present district president of the party, two names, Jitu Patnaik, former MLA, Champua and Hrishikesh Naik, MLA, Patna, are doing the rounds for the post.
While Jitu who had won the Assembly election as an independent candidate is said to be backed by Soumya Ranjan Patanaik, Hrishikesh also is a long time heavyweight BJD leader of the area. If Jitu is given the command of the party in the district, then he has the chance to accommodate the Congress supporters with him as Jitu was himself an original Congress leader. Besides, in view of age factor, Hrishikesh is in a disadvantageous position compared to Jitu.
However, situation changed on January 5 when news came that Jitu, a mines owner, has been summoned to appear in the Keonjhar Vigilance Court in connection with a Rs 130 crore mining scam.
If such a situation persists, then the alternative is Kusha Apat who had lost the last election by a very low margin against Sana Mahakud.
But the problem with him is that he has been suspended from the party.
Sources revealed that although Kusha is suspended from the party but he is seen in all the meeting of BJD in the district. His supporters in the BJD claim since Kusha has no mining or any other case against him, he should be re-inducted in the BJD.