Absence of elected reps in VK Pandian’s programmes fuel minister-vs-bureaucrat debate

As VK Pandian, the private secretary of CM Naveen Patnaik makes chopper rides across Odisha holding the so-called public grievance meetings, the absence of local MLAs, MPs and Ministers in those programmes has raised serious questions.

The absence of public representatives from Pandian’s meetings has again fuelled the debate of who is superior, a minister or a bureaucrat with the Opposition training guns at the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led Odisha government asking if the role of public representatives is gradually diminishing in Odisha.

Interestingly, the MLAs remain absent only during Pandian’s presence. Prior to the programmes, the local MLAs are being seen arranging the logistics and other things for the meeting.

Taking a jibe at the BJD, BJP leader Gautam Ray said, “No MLAs or MPs can be seen in Pandian’s meetings. Is this not a sheer travesty that the public representatives of the ruling party are behaving like slaves of a bureaucrat.”

Even the Congress party was vocal enough over the matter. Jeypore MLA, Taraprasad Bahinipati said, “I do not think, there is a democratic administration in our State. The people have already known that these MLAs and Ministers have absolutely no say in the government.”

Replying to the allegations, BJD MP Munna Khan said, “Election is nearing. That is why MLAs and MPs are busy in their respective constituencies. So they are not seen in the Capital city more often.”

Meanwhile, a column by columnist Natabar Khuntia about the same issue has provided fodder to the Opposition to sharpen their allegations against the government.

Khuntia made a comparative study of Odisha’s current political situation with the history in his social media post after which Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday expressed concern.

Pradhan questioned who is currently Govinda Vidyadhara as described in Khuntia’s post? He further stated that the reason why Prataprudra Dev involved Govinda Vidyadhara in running the affairs of the state was also a big question then.

The Union Minister wrote, “Will another Govinda Vidyadhara come through the back door and the people of the State will welcome him?”

Responding to the development, Khuntia said, “I have come from a village. I have self-respect. However, the present situation in the state has grieved me. I don’t belong to any political party. I am ashamed of the kind of governance in my State. So I was forced to give my opinion in this regard.”