This is an interesting time to watch Odisha politics. Anyone who has kept an eye on how things are playing out will understand that Baijayant Jay Panda has been unmissable by his presence in the media space. The industrialist-turned-politician has officially severed ties with the BJD and resigned from the Lok Sabha after his strained relationship with the regional outfit and its boss Naveen Patnaik hit the abyss.
Now on his own, the former Kendrapara MP has used every opportunity and forum to tell his side of the story. Panda is ensuring that he is adequately heard and seen, at least in the national media. He has carefully chosen his words as well as the media channels to convey how he was hounded out because he chose to flag the deteriorating internal affairs of the BJD.
If politics is a lot about perception, the four-time parliamentarian is not only garnering sympathy and support but also letting the world know who he was wronged by. The last straw, according to him, was Naveen’s decision not to pay last respects to his father, the illustrious Bansidhar Panda, and restraining other members of the party.
Knowing Naveen, who is extremely conscious of his image of a political leader of rare civility and grace, Panda has slammed the “pettiness” and “mean mindedness” of the BJD. While Panda has been relentless, the Bharatiya Janata Party, having claimed the second position in the political space, is pulling out all stops to discredit the Naveen Patnaik Government.
Though the saffron outfit had showed signs of running out of steam in the aftermath of the Bijepur bypolls and in the run-up to the Karnataka elections, it has found its voice back after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit marking fourth year of the NDA Government. Its latest ammunition is the emotive issue of Jagannath Temple and the national party is going after the ruling dispensation all guns blazing.
Hoping that anti-incumbency will eventually catch up with the BJD in the 2019 elections, the BJP campaign has been about creating a perception that Naveen is old and tired of governing Odisha.
The Odisha Chief Minister could not care less, though. He has not uttered a word against Panda and going by his ways, he is unlikely to. An unaffected BJD supremo, on the other hand, has stepped on the pedal as his Government has unfurled a slew of sops for the people.
Last week, Naveen announced a Universal Health Coverage programme under which anyone visiting a government-run hospital till the district level would be provided healthcare completely free of cost. It is a direct challenge to the much-hyped Ayushman Bharat – National Health Protection Scheme of the NDA Government, as the Odisha Government refused to sign the MoU saying its own scheme is better and would cover more people without bringing in insurance companies into play.
Naveen has not stopped at it; he even dared the BJP by deciding to skip the NITI Aayog meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi on Sunday.
The BJD chief has been very careful in his strategies. Instead of wasting energy against his rivals, since March, he has been interacting with people of all gram panchayats through video-conferencing as part of his ‘Ama Gaon, Ama Bikash’ programme during which he announces new projects. While his Opposition is still attempting to read his cards, Naveen has been directly connecting with the people.
His party feels this could be a game-changer against the anti-incumbency factor in the 2019 elections.
Now in the last year of the fourth term, Naveen has unfurled more than 50 schemes. From `1-a-kg rice to laptop for students; free cancer treatment at district hospitals to easy loans for self-help groups; student scholarship to tribal sports, he is virtually drowning out the Opposition with his populist policies.
That is not all.
His government has been turning every bad Press moment into a good one. After the Kathua rape and murder, Odisha grabbed headlines over a spate of sexual assaults against minor girls. To counter the negative sentiment, state police recently launched ‘Save Paree’ campaign across all the 30 districts, which was so well received that now a second phase is being planned.
While the 2019 General Elections are still some distance away, the BJD has already gone into poll mode without giving its Opposition any breathing space. How the BJP and Congress the challenge the perception juggernaut of the BJD will be fascinating to watch in the days to come.
Siba Mohanty
Deputy Resident Editor, Bhubaneswar,Odisha
Email: sibamohanty@newindianexpress.com