Naveen’s big no to divisive politics

BHUBANESWAR: By sacking senior leader Damodar Rout from his council of ministers and as BJD vice-president, chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik sent out a strong signal to his colleagues and cadres that the party is in his firm grip and that he won't tolerate any nonsense, analysts said. The timing could not have been better as it comes days ahead of December 26 when the Naveen Patnaikled BJD will turn 20.
Naveen who is president of the party since its inception proved that he is on the driver's seat, decisively. This was perceived to have been diluted earlier when he maintained a stoic silence after his MPs Baijayant Panda and Bhartruhari Mahtab pointed out "all is not well" in the party and Damodar made controversial remarks. More than the minister's removal, the strong words used by Naveen were remarkable. "I strongly disapprove of anyone who makes derogatory remarks against any caste, creed or religion," Naveen said. "Had Damodar been asked to resign, the impact would not have been so massive," said a senior BJD leader.

Team Naveen has planned a mega bash on BJD Foundation Day at Puri that witnessed maximum protests over Damodar's December 18 remarks comparing Brahmins with beggars. Had Damodar not been dropped, the protests in Puri could have spoiled the BJD's birthday bash. Otherwise, Damodar's three other recent comments seem to have done far more political damage to the BJD compared to his latest castetist slur. Senior BJD leaders, concentrating on winning the Bijepur bypoll, were crestfallen when Damodar, as agriculture minister, on November 4 said farmers who have burnt their crops will not get any compensation from the government. The remarks in the wake of a farmer in Bargarh district (of which Bijepur is a part) committing suicide after he torched his paddy field had turned farmers against the BJD. It is known that women form a core voter base of Naveen and anganwadi workers play a crucial role in the mobilisation.

But on October 26, Damodar angered the anganwadi workers for his comment "Swami chhadi anganwadi" (Someone working for an anganwadi without attending to one's husband) while describing a woman BJP leader. The senior leader, who is also a BJD vice-president followed up on November 23 by questioning credentials of Jayee Rajguru as a freedom fighter though he is revered as Odisha's first freedom fighter. On his part, Damodar on Saturday said it is prerogative of the chief minister to keep or drop someone from his minitry. "It is nothing unusual. I will continue working for the people who have voted me to power," the Paradip MLA said. But speculation is rife about his next move. BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said Damodar's removal is an eyewash. "After giving Damodar a free-run to insult everyone, he was sacked to boost Naveen's image," Sharma said.