By: Basant Rath, Sr.Journalist.
The ruling BJD MP and party’s senior leader Pyari Mohan Mohapatra has indirectly accepted his “hot and cold” relationship with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Mr.Mohapatra, in fact, ended a long standing speculation over his relationship with BJD Supremo as have been reported in media.
“I accept both, regarding rise of my influence in the state as well as fall in relationship with Naveen Babu,” Mr.Mohapatra told reporters replying a question on his reported sour relationship with the Chief Minister.
Mr.Mohapatra, who enjoyed the status of a “Chanakya” in Naveen’s Durbar for 12 long year, of late fell apart from the Chief Minister. The people, who were making beeline at his residence, now fear to enter into Saheed Nagar.
The reason: the fear of Naveen.
Since some days, Naveen had stopped taking advice from his chief strategist over some reason or other. While nobody knows about the cause of difference between the two, it is now evident that both are not pulling well as they used to do barely six months ago.
Becoming emotional, the bureaucrat turned politician said that romance between couple slows down when it becomes old.
“I have relationship with Naveen Babu for over 12 years which is a ‘Yug’,” Mr.Mohapatra said indicating that there was nothing unusual if their relationship slowed down.
Replying a question on the BJD supporting P A Sangma as the presidential candidate, Mohapatra said: “The party president has announced name of Sangma. Therefore it is decision of the entire party.”
Asked whether he would garner support for Sangma, Mr.Mohapatra said: “It is responsibility of the person who named him and not me. Besides, Sangma is there to seek support for him.”
On a question on the BJD not becoming member of the Rajya Sabha Select Committee, Mr.Mohapatra said that the regional party had not requisite number to make into the committee.
However, replying another question, he said: “Why you (media) people are worried. Jayalalithaa is now sister of Naveen Babu....There is nothing wrong if a brother gives dowry to his sister.”
