Sister is not interested in politics: Naveen Patnaik
BHUBANESHWAR: Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has ended speculation about his sister, author Gita Mehta, entering politics.
"My sister is not interested in any political positioning, not in the Rajya Sabha, nor anywhere else," Patnaik told the media in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
Patnaik who has been meeting newly-elected representatives of panchayati raj institutions for the first time at the party office has begun introspection he promised post the February local body polls. The efforts will also address complaints of BJD leaders that the CM has not been receiving direct political feedback of late.
A reshuffle of his ministry could follow next.
Speculation that Gita Mehta, Patnaik's New York-based elder sister, would be given a Rajya Sabha ticket started after Patnaik asked newly elected MP Bishnu Charan Das to quit the Upper House. It happened immediately after the seemingly invincible four-time CM's party suffered a setback in the recent rural polls and BJP's rise to the number two position in the state.
But as Baijayant Panda wrote in an editorial, the CM is known for "continuing Biju babu's tradition of shunning nepotism and not allowing any family member to get involved in politics."
However, what he will do next is difficult to predict, as some of his colleagues learnt the hard way, as he is neither predictable nor chatty and steers his own ship. Mehta's presence in Bhubaneswar coincided with reports of dissent and Patnaik's health issues. A tweet by one of its MPs, alleging sabotage, promptly followed by another's open criticism which included a warning against roping in family, added to the speculation.
The BJD spokesperson, however, had denied the reports, pointing out that the rural polls that were portrayed as win for BJP did not give the right picture. Despite specific reversal, BJD candidates managed to win 218 out of the 314 block chairmen posts.
Patnaik is, however, known for making unexpected political moves. Just after the election process was set in motion in 2009, he announced the breakup of alliance with the BJP in the presence of the BJP representative who had arrived to negotiate a seat-sharing agreement.
He had also sacked BJD leader Dilip Ray even before anyone knew that he had fallen out of favour.
"My sister is not interested in any political positioning, not in the Rajya Sabha, nor anywhere else," Patnaik told the media in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
Patnaik who has been meeting newly-elected representatives of panchayati raj institutions for the first time at the party office has begun introspection he promised post the February local body polls. The efforts will also address complaints of BJD leaders that the CM has not been receiving direct political feedback of late.
A reshuffle of his ministry could follow next.
Speculation that Gita Mehta, Patnaik's New York-based elder sister, would be given a Rajya Sabha ticket started after Patnaik asked newly elected MP Bishnu Charan Das to quit the Upper House. It happened immediately after the seemingly invincible four-time CM's party suffered a setback in the recent rural polls and BJP's rise to the number two position in the state.
But as Baijayant Panda wrote in an editorial, the CM is known for "continuing Biju babu's tradition of shunning nepotism and not allowing any family member to get involved in politics."
However, what he will do next is difficult to predict, as some of his colleagues learnt the hard way, as he is neither predictable nor chatty and steers his own ship. Mehta's presence in Bhubaneswar coincided with reports of dissent and Patnaik's health issues. A tweet by one of its MPs, alleging sabotage, promptly followed by another's open criticism which included a warning against roping in family, added to the speculation.
The BJD spokesperson, however, had denied the reports, pointing out that the rural polls that were portrayed as win for BJP did not give the right picture. Despite specific reversal, BJD candidates managed to win 218 out of the 314 block chairmen posts.
Patnaik is, however, known for making unexpected political moves. Just after the election process was set in motion in 2009, he announced the breakup of alliance with the BJP in the presence of the BJP representative who had arrived to negotiate a seat-sharing agreement.
He had also sacked BJD leader Dilip Ray even before anyone knew that he had fallen out of favour.
