The Hindu : Naveen not `perturbed' over developments

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 19, 2002

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Other States - Orissa

Naveen not `perturbed' over developments

By Our Staff Reporter

BHUBANESWAR SEPT. 18. Will the change effected in the leadership of the Biju Janata Dal parliamentary party by six dissident MPs on Tuesday mark the beginning of the party president and Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik's 's downfall in Orissa politics?

Although a clear answer is not yet forthcoming, it is certain that Mr. Patnaik's leadership has received a body blow, with the dissidents gaining a majority in the 10-member BJD parliamentary party. With the dice heavily loaded against him, Mr. Patnaik is in a dilemma on how to deal with the rebels. If he accepts the change in the leadership, it would signal a political defeat for him. And if he does not, he would have to reckon with a formal split in the parliamentary party.

Talking to presspersons this morning, Mr. Patnaik said that he was not unduly perturbed over the developments. "It is unfortunate that the dissidents have chosen a time when the State is reeling under a severe drought, and the NALCO privatisation issue is in focus. But I am not worried as long as the people are with me.''

Mr. Patnaik's apparent bravado, however, seemed to be an attempt at buying time. For most part of the day, he remained closeted with his Ministers and party legislators in an attempt to try and keep the flock together.

It is for the second time that Mr. Patnaik has been caught on the wrong foot. He failed to ensure the defeat of the former Union Minister, Dilip Ray, in the Rajya Sabha polls in May. Mr. Ray, who was subsequently expelled from the BJD, is strongly supporting the dissidents. The other prominent leader extending support to the dissidents is Bijoy Mahapatra, former Minister who was unceremoniously dumped by the BJD in the wake of the February 2000 Assembly polls. Mr. Mahapatra has claimed that the change in the BJD leadership would certainly affect State politics. And that Mr. Patnaik's ouster was just a matter of time.

Another prominent dissident in the BJD camp is Ramakrushna Patnaik who resigned from the State Cabinet after last month's Ministry expansion. His wife, Kumudini Patnaik, is among the six MPs who changed the BJD parliamentary party leader.Ms. Patnaik, who was suspended from the party along with two other party MPs in the Lok Sabha, is organising an anti-Naveen rally on September 20 at Hinjili, the Assembly constituency of the Chief Minister.

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