TV
A day before a scheduled court hearing in a false affidavit case against him, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Dillip Ray met Odisha Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan at his official residence, prompting fresh political chatter across the state.
According to sources, the meeting took place on Tuesday morning and comes just 24 hours after Governor Raghubar Das held a separate discussion with the Law Minister at the same venue.
The back-to-back high-profile visits have added layers of speculation regarding Ray’s future political plans and the broader BJP strategy in Odisha.
Development Claims Amid Legal Undercurrents
Responding to questions after the meeting, Dillip Ray dismissed any political subtext, stating that his visit was purely focused on infrastructure concerns in Rourkela.
“We discussed civic projects, including the construction of a glass bridge, a suspension bridge, and the long-delayed ring road. The Minister has assured that work on the bridge will begin before Durga Puja,” he said.
Ray further clarified that he had raised these issues previously during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi two months ago and reiterated that the Rourkela region required urgent infrastructure attention.
However, the timing of this visit has attracted scrutiny, especially since Ray is expected to appear before the Orissa High Court on Wednesday in connection with a case related to submitting a false affidavit.
With the hearing scheduled imminently, his interaction with the Law Minister is being closely observed for potential political signals.
Silent on Political Re-entry
When asked whether he would consider rejoining active politics or whether a Rajya Sabha nomination was being discussed, Ray chose not to respond directly. “There was no political discussion,” he stated, refusing to confirm or deny any electoral ambitions.
With the BJP recalibrating its strategy in Odisha, a possible cabinet reshuffle on the cards, and the party eyeing a stronger presence in traditionally BJD-dominated zones, Dillip Ray’s re-engagement with party affairs holds strategic weight.
Further, his stature as a former Union Minister and longstanding influence in western Odisha, particularly Rourkela, continues to make him a valuable political figure.
