Naveen adopts 3-pronged approach

Times of India, Feb 11, 2013
BHUBANESWAR: Launching schemes to woo different categories of voters, establishing mass contact through frequent visit to the districts and purging perceived dissidents within the BJD. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik is seemingly following a three-pronged approach, leaving nothing to chance as he gets into poll mode.

If ruling party insiders are to be believed, Naveenwants to remain fully prepared for the upcoming urban elections as well as the next Assembly andLok Sabha polls. "There is a good possibility that the general elections could get advanced and held in the later part of this year. In that eventuality, we may decide to go for twin polls like we did in 2004," a senior BJD leader said, sharing the likely thoughts in boss' mind.

The BJD game plan is quite understandable considering the Congress' decision to project Rahul Gandhi as well as identify its candidates for the next elections. "While the Congress has started its preparations, the BJP too is trying to project Narendra Modi as its prime minister candidate to improve its poll prospects. When our rivals are doing their spadework, we certainly cannot be found wanting," pointed out a BJD minister, explaining Naveen's rush for unveiling packages for different categories of the electorate.

During the past few months, the CM has not only announced various sops, be it cheap rice, roads, civic facilities or land titles to slum-dwellers, for urban and rural voters, he has also been making trips to different parts of the state. Official sources said since November he has toured all 30 districts. "He has already made second visits to some districts," an officer informed.

Keeping with the tempo, Naveen paid a visit to Kalahandi on Sunday, two days after touring Sonepur. Among others, he inaugurated the Kalampur bridge over Hatinadi, the tehsil office at Kalampur and distributed pattas (record of rights) to landless people and laid the foundation stones for the Rs 9 crore Biju setu over Uttei river and Rs 20 crore widening of road from Baldiamaal to Chhattisgarh border.

BJD sources said the party as well as the local administration had mobilized an impressivegathering so that large number of people from interior pockets could carry home Naveen's message of fiscal turnaround during his regime and also the Re one-a-kg rice scheme for the poor.

Official sources said Naveen would undertake trips to Bhadrak and Puri during the next couple of days. "After a break because of the Budget session starting February 14, he would resume visiting the districts," an officer informed.

New schemes and district visits apart, the CM is working on clipping the wings of those considered close to Pyarimohan Mohapatra, who rebelled against Naveen last year and has formed the Odisha Jan Morcha, by keeping them away from party positions and removing them from state-owned corporations and cooperatives.

"Naveen does not tolerate dissidence and keeping the Pyari factor in mind, he is taking curative action," said a minister, hoping the party would be able to successfully keep rebels at bay at the next hustings.