In Odisha’s politics, Patnaiks bridge past, present & future

Bhubaneswar: The Patnaiks have been synonymous with Odisha’s political history. In the more than 70 years since India’s independence, Odisha politics have been dominated by one Patnaik or the other for over 40 years now and if Naveen Patnaik manages to lead the BJD to a fifth successive time to power, that number will only swell.
What started with Biju Patnaik was followed up by Janaki Ballabh Patnaik before Biju’s son Naveen took over. Taken together, they have been chief ministers in the state for more than four decades — Biju seven years (1961-1963, 1990-1995), JB for nearly 15 years (1980-1985, 1985-1989 and 1995-1999) and Naveen 19 (from 2000 onwards). In between, Odisha has witnessed 11 other chief ministers.

But given the prevalent situation, Naveen could be the last from the Biju Patnaik family to enter politics. So far, the 73-year-old has avoided involving any other member of his family in politics. Sister Gita Mehta has consciously avoided the public gaze while elder brother Prem Patnaik is looking after his business in National Capital Region.

The JB clan, for long considered the Congress first family in Odisha, however, continue to hold sway despite the party having lost its sheen in the state.

Though JB and Biju were political rivals, JB’s son-in-law Soumya Ranjan, a BJD Rajya Sabha member, entered the fray from Khandapada assembly seat on a BJD ticket. The Congress had announced the name of JB’s son as an MLA candidate from Begunia, represented by his father twice, but he backed out after showing initial interest.

Soumya’s elder brother Niranjan is Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president and will be contesting from two assembly seats, Ghasipura and Bhandaripokhari this time. Niranjan’s son Nabajyoti is going to debut from Balasore Lok Sabha seat as Congress nominee. Niranjan has been minister in JB’s cabinet in all his three terms.

The extended Patnaik family of Soumya and Niranjan have business interest cutting across sectors, from mining to automobile, real estate to media and education and seafood.

The Patnaiks belong to ‘Karana’, an upper caste, who make up less than one per cent in the state, but dominate the political landscape in Odisha, a state which has not been known to vote on caste lines. Odisha’s population includes 22.85% scheduled tribes, 17.13% scheduled castes and 54% backward castes.

Post independence, dynasty politics took over in Odisha like many other states. “In the competition for political space, those at the helm would do whatever they could to retain power,” said Amareshwar Mishra, a retired professor of political science from Utkal University.

“The situation is similar in many states such as Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, where families dominate politics,” said Shukadeba Naik, a retired professor of sociology from Sambalpur University.