Economic Times, May 20, 2009
BHUBANESWAR: With Congress at least improving its tally of two Lok Sabha seats in 2004 polls to six in the just concluded poll, at least two party
MPs from Orissa are expected to get berths in the be represented in the new union government headed by Dr Manmohan Singh. Such a move will go a long way to boost the sagging moral of the beleaguered party in the state.
The party high command, however, has a ticklish issue to resolve the issue of ‘insider’ and ‘outsider’ in the party. The state party has seen ugly duel between the leaders of original Congress and Biju Congress. Former union minister for parliament affairs and tourism, Srikant Jena, former union minister of state for railways, Bhakta Charan Das and the new entrant, Pradeep Kumar Majhi are being viewed as ‘Biju Congress’ in the party as they in the past belonged to Janata Dal led by late legendary leader, Biju Patnaik.
Former chief minister Hemananda Biswal, former Orissa minister, Amarnath Pradhan and the new entrant Sanjay Bhoi are considered representatives from the original Congress.
Mr Jena, who was a cabinet minister in Deve Gowda government, joined Congress in 1999. He tasted defeat twice and was in political hibernation till he won Balasore Lok Sabha seat by more than 35,000 votes. His political acumen and ability to handle sensitive parliament affairs portfolio during the Deve Gowda’s government keeps him a forerunner for the post.
The party high command is aware of his capability to embarrass the resurgent Naveen Patnaik government and the BJD head on by raising issues relating to development of the state. Mr Jena, however, says, he would not like to be confined to just one ministry by becoming a minister in Delhi.
“I was a cabinet minister. I know its burden and high expectations from the people that come with it. One will be confined to the ministry. As a MP, I can help strengthen the party in the state and at the same time, ensure union ministries pay proper attention to the state, which need urgent central intervention”, Mr Jena on Wednesday told “The ET” over telephone from Delhi.
Bhakta, who had been leading from the front against Vedanta Aluminium Ltd’s attempt to mine bauxite from Niyamgiri Hills to feed its alumina plant at Lanjigarh in Kalahandi district for years, is another contender for the post. In fact, he managed to get the ticket at the last minute after the intervention by party president Sonia Ganhdi. Bhakta won the Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat by a margin of over 1.5 lakh, notwithstanding the pro-Naveen wave sweeping across the state.
Former chief minister, Hemananda Biswal is also a strong contender for the post, but his inability to lead the party from the front during the crisis time is his bane. Mr Amar Pradhan, who is said to be close to 10, Janapath, particularly Rahul Gandhi, also is in the contention for the post. But he at best can be accommodated as minister of state.
The party workers apprehend that the defeat of Congress for third time in the Assembly polls could lead to UP like situation. First the high command needs to send a strong message that the party is not neglecting Orissa, which has been the ralling point of the ruling BJD led by Naveen Patnaik, by giving adequate representation in the cabinet.
Second, the party needs to present a strong leader who can take the battle to Naveen’s home turf with proper articulation of issues concerning people’s development, bad governance by the BJD led state government and a holistic strategy to strengthen the party from the grassroots.
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