Bhubaneswar: Legendary leader Biju Babu could very well be the reason why stalwarts of Indian Politics - former President of India Pranab Mukherjee, senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, CPI(M) party chief Sitaram Yechury, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda – will be seen together on one stage tomorrow, but many cannot rule out the fact that it is being used as an opportunity by the ruling-BJD to show its strength and prove its acceptance across the political spectrum.
Preparations are in full swing at the Utkal Mandap for the release of the pictorial biography - 'The Tall Man Biju Patnaik’ by Sundar Ganesan.
Apart from the aforesaid leaders, Odisha’s Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra, senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra, MLA Dilip Ray and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan are other prominent invitees to the function.
With the ruling party lining up such political heavyweights, experts feel that it could not have been for the sole reason of a book launch. Many believe that Naveen wants to showcase his rapport with national as well as State leaders and even see it as a possible groundwork for a new political equation.
Surendra Nayak, senior BJD leader said, "People are apprehensive whether they will get a leader like Biju Babu in coming days. But Sundar Ganesan has tried to create a new hope among people."
"Biju babu should not be confined to a party. But unfortunately naming a party after him has somehow degraded the legendary leader's image," Opposition leader Narasingha Mishra stated.
Expressing similar views, senior BJP leader Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said, "No one should try to get political mileage out of the book release function."
BJD spokesperson Debi Prasad Mishra, rubbishing the talks surrounding the scheduled book release function tomorrow, stated, "It has nothing to do with politics. This is only a tribute to a legendary hero."
Buzz is also that the book release function might also be the strategy for the highest civilian award - 'Bharat Ratna' – for Biju Patnaik.
The book will be released at a function organised by the Biju Patnaik Birth Centenary Committee at the Utkal Mandap in Bhubaneswar tomorrow