Mohapatra, Panda deny revolt in BJD

Bhubaneswar: A day after reports indicated that all is not well within the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party in Odisha, the man at the centre of the “alleged revolt” has denied any such dissidence. 

Senior party leader Pyari Mohan Mohapatra said BJD leader and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik continues to be their leader. He denied speculation that he planned to dethrone Patnaik. 

While stating that there was no dissidence in the party, Mohapatra did say that there were grievances because the party organisation was not being looked after properly. 

He said party members who had met him said they were unhappy because bureaucrats were not listening to them. He also said some ministers had told him that their secretaries were ignoring them. 

Mohapatra, 72, did not name Patnaik but said people with vested interests were trying to create indiscipline in the party and were not being checked despite repeated reminders. 

"For one-and-a-half years I have been pointing out indiscipline in the party but no action was taken," he said. Meanwhile, top party MP Jay Panda also rubbished as mere speculation reports of a revolt. 

Panda said, “There is no threat as is being speculated. I want to reiterate that there is no threat to the Naveen Patnaik-led government in the state.” 

The trouble started after it was reported that at least 25 BJD MLAs including four senior ministers Tuesday night met at Mohapatra’s Bhubaneswar residence in the absence of Naveen Patnaik, who is in the United Kingdom. 

It was being speculated that the BJD was heading for a possible split as a powerful section within the party had fallen out with the CM. Panda clarified on the issue saying, “The meeting at Pyari Mohan Mohapatra’s residence had nothing to do with the Naveen Patnaik government and it was called to discuss a statewide bandh called by the BJD to protest fuel price hike in the days to come.” 

The clarification from the BJD MP came in the wake of reports that the Rajya Sabha MP from Odisha is trying to form a “breakaway government” and is due to meet the Governor today to stake claim to form the government. 

The four ministers who attended the meeting presided by Mohapatra included Women Child Development Minister Anjali Behera, Higher Education Minister Badri Narayan Patra, Minister of Food, Civil supplies and Consumer Welfare Minister Sarada Prasad Naik, and Minister for Commerce and Transport Sanjeev Sahoo. 

Patnaik is currently in the UK and is scheduled to return on June 3. Despite the reported trouble in his party, he is not expected to cut short his UK trip and return home early. Reports of a rift widening between Patnaik and Mohapatra have been doing the rounds for quite some time now. 

I apologise for my misbehaviour at MCA: Shah Rukh Khan.

By: Basant Rath, Sr.Correspondent.


CHENNAI: An ecstatic Kolkata Knight Riders owner Shah Rukh Khan on Sunday apologised for his misbehaviour with the Mumbai Cricket Associationofficials at the Wankhede Stadium after a match against Mumbai Indians.

Surrounded by his wife and daughter and other kids, the Bollywood superstar said, "I want to apologise to the kids for my misbehaviour at MCA. I apologise to all who saw me differently. I shouldn't have behaved in that manner. But today my team has won, so I guess, all you fans should forgive me. We have won at last."

He praised each and every player.

"I am proud of Gautam and the boys. We made a video of families of all our players and saw Manvinder Bisla's parents speaking about their son. They must be very proud and so am I. I want to tell the people of the Bengal, that now this team belongs to you."

Naveen on UK visit: No second-in-command in State.

Who is now the number two in the ruling BJD as well as in its 12-year-old Government? The issue is being debated in political circles here in the backdrop of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s ongoing nine-day tour of the United Kingdom since May 23.

All the orders are coming from Patnaik, who is also the party supremo, from London, whether it is the decision of the BJD to join the all-India shutdown call given by the opposition parties at the national level on May 31 against the petrol price hike or that of transfer of officials.

With the differences between Patnaik and his principal strategist and senior party MP Pyarimohan Mohapatra having widened further, the latter is no more calling shots in the BJD. The differences between the two were confirmed by Mohapatra himself when he told the media a few days ago, “I accept both the arguments that there was a rise in my influence and (is) a fall of that.”

When Patnaik left on his foreign jaunt for the first time in the 12 years of his rule, everybody was eager to know who would look after the party and the Government as the second-in-command in his absence. Patnaik, however, left no hints about it.

A number of Ministers who met Patnaik on the eve of his foreign visit had expected he would give the number two assignment to either of them. They were frustrated when the boss talked something other than what they were expecting.

Political observers had expected that as the senior-most Minister, Prafulla Chandra Ghadai would be asked to shoulder the responsibility of the administration in the Chief Minister’s absence.

Senior party leader and former Minister Damodar Rout, who is most vocal against “the second power centre” in the party and the Government, Pyarimohan Mohapatra, was also frustrated as Patnaik did not ask him to handle party affairs in his absence.

The leadership crisis was felt when Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh shot off a letter to Patnaik asking his Government to free all the innocent tribals booked on charge of being Maoists. Minister of Forests and Environment Debi Prasad Mishra tried to save the situation saying the State Government has withdrawn cases against 9,110 tribals. But the reply was all about statistics sans a political slant in view of the Union Minister’s apparent intention to defuse the tribal card being played by Patnaik propping up “eminent tribal leader” PA Sangma as a candidate for the Presidential elections.

Patnaik seems to give a clear message that there is no number two in the BJD and the Government. As many observers feel, time will tell if he can really manage the affairs of the party and administration without an unofficial second-in-command like Mohapatra.

Govt to revise vehicle usage rate for babus.

It is the babus who rule the roost in the State as far as availing of financial benefits are concerned.

You will be astonished that the senior officials are paying only Rs 300 to Rs 400 a month towards using official vehicles for private use. And the Finance Department sources reveal that the officials are paying the vehicle charges in accordance with a 2003 circular when petrol price per litre was only Rs 32. At present the price of petrol has gone up to Rs 73.

With the steep hike in petrol price, the Finance Department is considering a revision and rationalisation of the vehicle usage rate, said Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadai here on Saturday.

Mamata Banerjee to greet IPL champs KKR with 'Sandesh'

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee smiled a lot as she said today that she has but her state's love to give to the new IPL champions, the Kolkata Knight Riders. "We are a poor state, we have nothing but our love to give them," she said.

But the CM does plan a grand felicitation at the iconic Eden Garden stadium tomorrow. It will be an open house, no tickets, between 11 am and 1 pm and entry will be on a first come first served basis, Ms Banerjee said. There would be a 'sandesh' cake and there would be song - "Chak de India type of songs," the CM reckoned. The Eden Garden seats 60,000 people.

The team was expected to arrive in Kolkata this evening from Chennai, where the final was played. They have now been delayed as the Air India flight they were booked on has been cancelled. The champs are now reportedly trying for seats on a 7.40 pm flight which means they will reach Kolkata only late tonight. Ms Banerjee's government had planned a reception at the airport by a team of state ministers.

As part of the felicitation programme tomorrow, the Shah Rukh Khan-owned KKR will carry the cup they won last night in a victory procession. A special vehicle will take them from Victoria to Mahakaran. Kolkata, Ms Banejee noted, celebrated KKR's big win over two-time champions Chennai Super Kings through the night.

An exultant Shah Rukh Khan had dedicated the win last evening to the people of Bengal. Ms Banerjee congratulated the popular actor, "our brand ambassador," but said she had not spoken to him yet.

First Odia woman Rupa Dash bags the first ever ‘Best Telecom Brand Marketer’ award at the 6th National Telecom Awards-2012.

New Delhi, May 20: The first Odia woman Rupa Dash, National Business Head, Percept Limited, the biggest Indian entertainment, media and communications conglomerate; have been bestowed with the first ever award of ‘Best Telecom Brand Marketer” at the recently held 6th National Telecom Awards-2012 which honored her  lasting contributions in creating an effective brand visibility of national and international  telecom players that it has serviced over the years, also complimented its cutting-edge  campaigns for the varied telecom brands as well.

Awarded at the 6th edition of the National Telecom Awards as organized by the Communication Media Association of India (CMAI), the apex organization promoting the Indian IT and Telecom sector, the award recognizes her continual commitment to create global telecom entities wherein she has helped home-grown companies to become ‘People’s Brand’ and has facilitated recognized entities to reach the zenith of telecommunication echelons, both nationally and globally.

Felicitating the best Telecom Companies and Service Operators for their research, development & innovations in this sector, the 6th National Telecom Awards identified and recognized the outstanding contributions to the field of communication, ICT, multimedia and infrastructure while providing greater encouragement and impetus to the players for their contribution in building a robust National Telecom Network.

The 6th National Telecom Awards this year was attended by over 2500 delegates making it the mother of all Telecom events in India, wherein attendees included luminaries like Dr Hamadoun Touré, Secretary General, ITU Geneva; Dr. JS Sarma, IAS, Chairman, TRAI; Shri R Chandrashekhar, IAS Secretary DOT, Govt. of India; Shri GB Pradhan, IAS Secretary, MNRE; Prof. Dr SS Mantha, Chairman, AICTE along with Shri Akhil Gupta, Deputy Group CEO and Managing Director, Bharti Enterprises; Shri Bharat Agarwal, Executive Director Dainik Bhaskar Group of Newspapers; Shri Ravi Sharma, CEO Adani Powers Ltd.

Dr. Hamadoun Toure, Secretary General, ITU Geneva, “Women are the bedrock of our societies and are the pillars of strength in every family and community. We need to ensure that they are fairly rewarded and do get the same opportunities as men get in every sphere of life. This year being celebrated as the ‘Year of Empowerment of Women in ICT’ makes me urge CMAI along with all the delegates present in here to work sincerely for the empowerment of women and  girls, both within and through ICT. With these remarks, it gives me great pleasure to present the cynosure award of the evening, ‘Best Telecom Brand Marketer’  which being spearheaded by a resourceful and dynamic woman-Ms. Rupa Dash  goes to show the ingenuity that a woman possesses in today’s corporate environ.”

Rupa Dash, National Business Head, Percept Limited said, “When I started servicing telecom clients post the economic meltdown of 2007, it came as a huge challenge to create brand visibility of telecom giants with the limited resources available. This award encapsulates trials and tribulations, achievements and successes; and inspires me to give in my best to the sector which is right now one of the most dynamic components of the Indian economy. I am really honored to be the recipient of the first ever award in this category and would like to thank ICT, CMAI, and Ministry of Telecom and every telecom partner of ours who have appreciated our worth in this category.”

UMERKOTE ASSEMBLY POLL.................. Three In Fray after Scrutiny of Papers

Poised for BJD-BJP-Cong triangular contest.

The by-election will be a test for CM Naveen Patnaik's popularity in the tribal heartland with the State Govt launching a series of welfare programmes for the STs.

The by-elections for the Umerkote Assembly seat would be a three-cornered contest among the major political parties, the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the BJP and the Congress.

After the scrutiny of nomination papers on Monday, out of the six candidates only three are left in the fray for the by-poll on November 30.

Among the six candidates, two nominations of Dhanuram Gond (Independent) and Buti Bhatra belonging of of Kaling National Front were rejected, while Sunadhar Paklu, candidate of the Republican Party of India withdraw his papers.

The by-election will be a test for Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s popularity in the tribal heartland with the State Government launching a series of welfare programmes for the STs. The BJD has deployed Ministers Surjya Narayan Patro, Ramesh Majhi and Bikram Keshari Arukh, Koraput MP Jayaram Pangi, MLAs Rabi Narayan Nanda and Arabinda Dhali for campaigning.

Besides, Nabarangpur Municipal Chairman Prahalad Tripathy, Umerkote NAC Chairman Jhadeswar Mohanty and district BJD president Jayadev Parida are among the leading campaigners for party nominee Subash Gond’s victory. BJD sources claimed that Chief Minister Patnaik would also come for campaigning so that different factions in the party’s district unit would be united.

The Congress is also not far behind. Senior leader Narasingha Mishra, Nabarangpur MP Pradeep Majhi and MLAs Bhujabal Majhi and Ramachandra Kadam are camping in the area. Besides, former MLAs Sadan Naik and Tara Prasad Bahinipati are also campaigning for the party’s candidate Jitendra Gond.

While the BJD has fielded a close associate of the slain MLA Jagabandhu Majhi hoping to win the election on a sympathy wave as Majhi was a bachelor without any political heir, the Congress is expecting to win the seat by making the deteriorating law and order situation in the Assembly segment its prime election agenda.

On the other hand, BJP candidate Dharmu Gond, who was Umerkote’s MLA in 2004 and had occupied second position in the last election, is quite optimistic of victory this time.  Senior BJP leaders, including State president Jual Oram, vice-president Ashok Sahu and former MP Parshuram Majhi are aggressively campaigning for the party candidate.

The Umerkote Assembly segment, which has around 1,71,000 voters, consists of Raighar and Umerkote blocks and the Umerkote NAC. Nine out of 24 panchayats of Raighar block bordering Chhattisgarh are considered the Maoist hotbed. Areas like Haldia, Gona, Timanpur, Naktichanla, Kudai and Mundibeda are some of the worst Maoist-hit areas in the State. The Mainpur Divisional Committee of the extremists is operating in these places.

Political observers believe that the bypoll will again return the BJD nominee to the Assembly though with a reduced margin. The interesting thing in the bypoll is to watch which of the Opposition political parties, the Congress and the BJP, finishes second.

It is vibrant that the main battle will be between the BJP and the BJD. If Subash Gond gains sympathy votes, he will win the elections by a huge margin. If people vote for a better candidate, Dharmu Gond will emerge as the winner. The Congress may finish third yet again, observers feel.