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Patnaik projected as future CM despite state BJP opposition

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

The Bharatiya Janata Party has given the green signal for the projection of Union Minister for Mines and Minerals and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik as the future Orissa chief minister if the BJD-BJP alliance comes to power in the state.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani have given clear hints in this regard.

Addressing an election meeting in the state recently, Vajpayee made it clear that Patnaik would be given the top job to fulfil the dream of his late father Biju Patnaik.

Advani had reiterated this despite opposition from the local BJP unit. "Certain things are obvious and I don't have to say anything,'' he said. ''There is nothing wrong if the BJD projects its own leader. Every party projects its own leader."

But at the same time, he added, Patnaik ''is a valued colleague of ours in the Central government. It (the election of chief minister) is a matter, however, to be decided by the elected legislators.''

However, senior BJP leader and Union Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan extended his support to Patnaik. He said on Friday that Vajpayee and Advani have already given clear-cut indications in this regard.

"For those who understand the indications it was clear as to who will be the next chief minister of the state," Mahajan said without naming Patnaik for the top post.

Mahajan claimed that there was no possibility of a controversy over the issue. "We hope that within a few minutes we will solve the issue after the poll outcome," he said.

As the BJP has not projected any of its leaders as the chief ministerial candidate, it is more or less clear who will be the next chief minister.

As for the state BJP unit's opposition to Patnaik's candidature, he said that neither the BJP opposed his candidature nor supported it to date.

He clarified that no Maharashtra type formula has been evolved between the BJP and BJD in deciding the chief ministership.

Asked whether the BJP would get the top job if it wins more assembly seats than the BJD, he said that it might not be possible as the latter was contesting 84 assembly seats as against the BJP's 63.

It is not the first time that differences have cropped up between the BJD and BJP over the projection of Patnaik as the chief minister.

Last year, before the Lok Sabha polls, alliance leaders were debating the question of projecting Patnaik as the chief ministerial candidate.

Patnaik's candidature for the top post has the support of a majority of the people in the state. "It is nothing but Biju Patnaik's legacy that will mobilise the voters to support the alliance this time," he said.

BJD working president Nalini Kant Mohanty announced recently that Patnaik would help realise all the dreams of his father after becoming the state's chief minister.

The issue of projecting Patnaik as the future chief minister came to fore last year when BJP legislature party leader Biswabhusan Harichandan strongly condemned any attempts in this regard.

Describing it as a "disservice'' to the people of the state, Harichandan claimed that the chief ministerial candidate should know Oriya language and culture. He, however, did not name Patnaik, who still cannot speak Oriya fluently.

Taking offence at Harichandan's stand, senior BJD leader and party MP Prasanna Acharya had written a letter to BJP general secretary K N Govindacharya complaining about his party's interference in the regional outfit's internal affairs.

However, rebel BJD leader Bijoy Mohapatra had said that there was nothing wrong in what Harichandan had said.

Mohapatra was recently expelled by Patnaik from the party.

In recent days, Patnaik's candidature has been supported by none other than senior BJD leader and Union Minister of State for Steel Dilip Ray who was believed to be in the race for the top post as a compromise candidate.

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