Bhubaneswar: Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik meeting senior BJD leaders Baishnab Parida and Nabin Nanda as more and more people join the march against interference of bureaucracy in politics might have left very little to imagination. Both Baishnab and Nabin have been vocal about the interference of bureaucracy in Odisha politics.
As speculations continue, BJD’s Kendrapara MP, Baijayant Panda stated in his tweet message that he is happy that Naveen met some leaders who share the same concerns with him and heard them in the interest of the party and Odisha.
While some might feel it is house cleaning others doubt it to be a camouflage strategy to protect V Karthikeyan Pandian, the IAS officer and his private secretary who is considered to be the second power centre within the ruling BJD.
Reports claim that Naveen met Baishnab and Nabin in presence of MLA Pranab Prakash Das and Pandian.
“The meeting was with the CM and Pandian was present. Even Pranab Prakash Das was present and I feel that if such meetings are called to discuss all the issues from time to time it will be helpful for the party,” said Baishnab.
“I want the party not to face any problems in future. Yesterday even I told the CM that he should take the decisions even if people suggest a lot of things,” said Naveen.
It’s difficult to understand how the issues related to Pandian’s interference in politics could have been discussed in presence of the bureaucrat himself. So if it was not about the officer, was it about the party given the fact that 2019 elections are round the corner which leaves Naveen with little leeway for bold castigations.
“When the party chief spoke about the need of introspection, the party’s strategy has been the same. There is nothing new and there are no aberrations,” BJD spokesperson, Pratap Deb said.
Meanwhile, Nabin has praised Baijayant and replying to the latter’s tweet said that all his efforts will bear fruits in the coming days.