Skip to main content

Resigned to fate? Odisha CM pitted against a ‘viciously organised' Hindutva force

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* 
All attempts by senior leadership to form an electoral alliance between the BJD and BJP in Odisha have failed due to popular opposition to such an alliance in forthcoming elections. Both parties have declared their candidates for the general and state elections.  Naveen Patnaik has also announced his candidates for the BJD. 
At this stage, it seems like the narrative of the ruling party under the leadership of  Patnaik resembles that of a surrendered general who wishes to become a philanthropist in electoral politics to hide his failures for more than two decades.
The notion of philanthropy in politics may seem conceivable, yet within the realm of electoral politics, there exists no straightforward or adept method of disarming and overcoming political opposition. 
Despite this, the political opposition, led by the BJP in the state, has operated akin to a second-hand ruling party, lacking the vigour expected of a true opposition force in democracy. As Chief Minister,  Patnaik currently faces minimal political opposition within the state, yet he has still failed to deliver the oft-quoted development for the masses. 
In his initial decade as Chief Minister, Patnaik espoused the non-existent dreams of his father,  Biju Patnaik, to the people of Odisha. Now, after two decades at the helm, he presents his own dreams of "New Odisha, Naveen Odisha." 
These dreams resemble the fictitious and supercilious American dreams or the aspirations of salvation in Hindu spiritual teachings -- illusive and intangible. Their realisation remains elusive, as even the dreamer himself seems uncertain about their true essence.
 Patnaik has not only squandered the political goodwill of the working masses in the state, but he has also failed to mobilise the internal resources of the state for the welfare of the people. He has failed to generate wealth and employment for the masses and failed to deliver health and education for the masses. 
Additionally, he has failed to develop the state on a prosperous and peaceful path, as he indirectly hands over the state and government to the Hindutva forces led by the BJP. He has redeployed his tainted MLAs and weak leaders as candidates who are likely to lose the election to the viciously organised Hindutva forces. It is evident from the way he manages to maintain a resigned state of leadership with the withdrawn mindset of a defeated commander in politics.
By fielding tainted MLAs and feeble leaders as candidates -- many of whom are poised to lose against the well-organised Hindutva electoral machinery -- Patnaik appears to be acquiescing to the impending dominance of these forces. 
His approach reflects a leader resigned to his fate, adopting the demeanour of a defeated commander in the political arena, rather than actively steering the state towards a more robust and resilient progressive political future. 
In the forthcoming elections, the BJP sells Modi’s dream, and the BJD sells Naveen Patnaik’s dreams the masses. What are these dreams? What do these dreams mean for the working masses? No one knows these elusive dreams. 
The truth is that the true essence of these elusive dreams remains shrouded in mystery. People must be careful of such political quacks who sell dreams during elections to control the everyday lives of the masses after their victory. People must defeat these dream sellers and choose candidates who talk about secular, scientific, successful, and alternative policy visions for the masses. It's imperative for the public to exercise caution amidst the electoral cacophony, wary of those who peddle dreams during elections only to support capitalist class post-victory. 
Instead, voters should reject these purveyors of dreams and opt for candidates who espouse historically grounded successful policy visions that truly benefit the masses. By doing so, they can ensure a future governed by tangible progress rather than fleeting promises.
As the forthcoming elections approach, they bring to light the deep-rooted political crisis plaguing the state
The current candidate profiles of all mainstream political parties in Odisha resemble an ideology-free zone in politics, devoid of principles, policies, and visions for people. The present and future of the state and its people are poised to be in the hands of individuals lacking vision. 
The prevailing camaraderie between the ruling party and the opposition party has transformed democracy in the state into a corporate joint venture aimed at capturing and sharing power to serve the ruling and non-ruling elites. This collusion sidelines democratic scrutiny, allowing the state's resources to be monopolised by the corporate class unchecked. 
Politics for profit is the only motto of a market democracy led by the BJD and BJP in the state. Both the parties are working overtime in handing over the mining and marine resources of the state to the corporate class without any form of democratic scrutiny. 
As the forthcoming elections approach, they bring to light the deep-rooted political crisis plaguing the state. With no champions to represent the interests of the working masses, the future governance of Odisha hangs in the balance, underscoring the urgent need for a paradigm shift towards policies that prioritize the welfare of the people over elite interests. 
The election without democratic principles and vision for the people reveal the deeply ingrained political crisis in the state where no one is there to represent the interests of the working masses.
In this critical juncture, it is imperative for the people in Odisha to unite and reject both the BJP and BJD, seeking instead a political alternative rooted in substantive policies aimed at the development and welfare of the masses. 
Only through this concerted effort can the populace alter their democratic destiny, breaking free from the grip of various iterations of the ruling class and castes that serve the interests of crony capitalists. 
These vested interests have long plundered the state's forest, water, agricultural, mineral and marine resources, leaving the people mired in poverty and deprivation. It is only by dismantling this entrenched system and electing a government that genuinely prioritises the needs of the working masses that a new political dawn can emerge in Odisha. 
Therefore, the power lies in the hands of the people to forge a new path forward, one that fosters genuine progress and prosperity for all, rather than perpetuating the cycle of mass exploitation and neglect. 
History is the only witness to political victories of the masses over all empires and their powerful agencies. Odia people defeated Ashoka and they can defeat the political friendship between Modi and Naveen too.
---
*University of Glasgow, UK

Comments

TRENDING

Campaign group urges INDIA alliance to release Jharkhand manifesto to counter BJP’s 'divisive' agenda

By Our Representative  The Loktantra Bachao Abhiyan, an advocacy group, has issued a press release urging the INDIA alliance to release a Jharkhand-specific manifesto to counter the BJP’s "divisive" electoral agenda. With just two weeks remaining before the assembly elections, the INDIA coalition has yet to announce its plans and priorities for the state. Meanwhile, the BJP's campaign, according to the press release, is centered around communalism, divisiveness, and distraction from Jharkhand's core issues.

Tributes paid to pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, who 'dodged' police for 60 yrs

By Harsh Thakor*  Jagjit Singh Sohal, known as Comrade Sharma, a pioneer of Naxalism in Punjab, passed away on October 20 at the age of 96. Committed to the Naxalite cause and a prominent Maoist leader, Sohal, who succeeded Charu Majumdar, played hide and seek with the police for almost six decades. He was cremated in Patiala.

Israel's 'war crime': 18,000 children died not just from bomb explosions but also starvation

By Sandeep Pandey*  Last year 6 years old Madiha was a guest during Diwali at our home in Lucknow. Listening to the sound of fire crackers bursting outside she remarked, ‘It appears as if we’re in Gaza.’ She has probably no idea of the extent of damage and loss of life that has taken place in Palestine but can relate to sound of crackers as bombs exploding over Gaza.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Will Left victory in Sri Lanka deliver economic sovereignty plan, go beyond 'tired' IMF agenda?

By Atul Chandra, Vijay Prashad*  On September 22, 2024, the Sri Lankan election authority announced that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) alliance won the presidential election. Dissanayake, who has been the leader of the left-wing JVP since 2014, defeated 37 other candidates, including the incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP) and his closest challenger Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. 

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah  The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Will Bangladesh go Egypt way, where military ruler is in power for a decade?

By Vijay Prashad*  The day after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka, I was on the phone with a friend who had spent some time on the streets that day. He told me about the atmosphere in Dhaka, how people with little previous political experience had joined in the large protests alongside the students—who seemed to be leading the agitation. I asked him about the political infrastructure of the students and about their political orientation. He said that the protests seemed well-organized and that the students had escalated their demands from an end to certain quotas for government jobs to an end to the government of Sheikh Hasina. Even hours before she left the country, it did not seem that this would be the outcome.

How pseudo-liberals 'went wrong' in judging DY Chandrachud as Chief Justice India

By Shamsul Islam*  DY Chandrachud took charge as Chief Justice of the Indian Supreme Court (SC) on November 09, 2022. On this occasion many of the pseudo-liberals who claimed to be defenders of the democratic-secular polity of India manifested great happiness. They declared that the time of SC being an appendage of the RSS-BJP government headed by PM Modi was over as Justice Chandrachud was a liberal judge committed to the democratic-secular polity of India. 

In the pantheon of Indian cricket, VVS Laxman as symbol of elegance, resilience, unselfish brilliance

By Harsh Thakor*  On November 1st, legendary Indian cricketer VVS Laxman celebrates his 50th birthday. Known for his elegance, Laxman turned impossible matches on their heads with a style that captivated cricket fans worldwide. He wielded his bat like an artist’s brush, finding gaps on the field with surgical precision, creating innings as meticulously as a sculptor carves a masterpiece. Born in Hyderabad, Laxman inherited the stylistic lineage of local icons ML Jaisimha and Mohammad Azharuddin, blending it with a grace reminiscent of Gundappa Viswanath.