Did Bhartruhari eat his own words on Kovind selection?

Bhubaneswar: It was just a week ago when MP Bhartruhari Mahatab had sparked off a controversy by writing an editorial on CM Naveen Patnaik's 'hasty' decision of supporting BJP-chosen Kovind for Presidential election. A week later, in yesterday's editorial, he has taken a completely different stance and written another editorial supporting BJD president's decision in supporting Kovind. What led him to question the selection in one and then accept it as best decision in the other, has raised many eyebrows in political circles.

While some feel  Mahtab changed opinion under duress from party top brass, others said good sense prevailed upon the MP to realise that the decision has been taken in the larger interest of the country.

"The recent statement of Bhartruhari Babu is time-bound. Because, due to his previous article, misunderstandings were created in the party circle. He has clarified it now,” BJD spokesperson Amar Satpathy said.

Similarly, BJD vice president and Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Surya Narayan Patro also favoured the article. "It is great that he compared Naveen Patnaik with Vinoba Bhave. I can’t agree with any other angle of the analysis being made out by others," Patro said.

On Mahatab's mention about the BJP, party's State president Basant Panda denied that the saffron party has strengthened its dalit agenda with BJD's support. "There is no secret political agenda in the party. Country's development is the only interest of BJP for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working relentlessly,'' Panda stated.

However the Congress dubbed BJD's move as self-centric. "Naveen Babu is an opportunist. He took such decision for his personal interest as he believes in autocracy," Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra said.