Speculations galore ahead of ‘Prajatantra’ anniv
Bhubaneswar, August 3(Reporters Today Bureau): The visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Odisha on August 8 has triggered speculation in political circles in State. Whether Shah will send some message across about party’s plans for the state will be known only after he arrives. But, it is speculation galore ahead of his visit.
Shah will be in state to attend the 75th anniversary of a leading Odia daily ‘Prajatantra’. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will also be present at the function. Then why is there ripple in the political circles in the State? It is a question that is bothering analysts.
‘Prajatantra’ is a language daily owned by Prajatantra Prachar Samiti that was founded by a former Chief Minister Dr Harekrushna Mahtab—father of Cuttack BJD MP Bhatruhari Mahtab. The sour relation of Bhartruhari with BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik is not unknown to people as the BJD MP on the eve of the 2019 General Election was critical of the party and Government’s functioning. Another two veteran journalists turned politicians Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Tathagata Satapathy – both in the party– were also critical of the party’s functioning. Their criticism of the party was not liked by a section in the party and the buzz was that these three may not be considered for party tickets during the election. But the buzz soon died as both Soumya Ranjan and Bhatruhari were given tickets for State Assembly and Lok Sabha respectively while Tathagata had opted out of electoral politics. But Bhartruhari, who was the leader of the party in the Lok Sabha was subsequently replaced by Pinaki Misra sparking doubts about Mahtab’s stature in the party. Nearly two and half years have passed since and the invitation to Shah to be chief guest at the Prajatantra Prachar Samiti function has now fuelled the speculations that raged during 2019.
The BJP had before the 2019 elections made Odisha a focus state. Shah visited Odisha as many as 12 times before the election to strengthen the party and win as many seats as possible. Shah even had described the BJD government as a ‘Burnt transformer.’ But BJD emerged stronger with more seats in the Assembly election. But surprising after the election the BJP-BJD acrimony of the election time fizzled out triggering speculation that both parties might have patched up. The subsequent support of BJD to the NDA government on several issues, including the latest choice for President and Vice President posts, was seen as a confirmation of a tacit understanding between the two parties. There are a host of issues on which the BJD supported the NDA, including on the most debated Farmers Bill.
The speculations about a possible understanding between the two parties also gained ground as Odisha’s one of the most prominent demand for ‘Special Category State’ status gradually became feeble.
But what are the possibilities?
The BJP conclave in Hyderabad recently and subsequent conclave of all Morchas of the party at Nalanda has provided fodder to more speculations about a possible alliance between the two parties. As of now the BJD is invincible in Odisha and the BJP is a distant Number Two. The Congress however is not in scene, at least for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It may succeed to revive itself later but not by 2024 at any cost. The question that troubles the minds of the analysts is whether both the parties have agreed to go for an alliance where the BJP bags the major share of the Lok Sabha seats while the BJD continue to rule the State uninterrupted for the sixth term. Why this speculation has gained ground?
The BJP’s National Executive in Hyderabad has made its intentions clear to make political inroads into states such as Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and exhorted its cadre to strengthen party base at grass root level. The interesting aspect is that the party has been tasting success in its endeavours in these states. In the Nalanda conclave Shah was again aggressive and exhorted the party cadre to increase seat share in these states by 2024. As it is well known BJP is a party which is in election mode round the year and 24X7.
Hence the speculation that Shah may send some message to the party in Odisha during his visit here to achieve party’s goal.
