By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: It was 2 decades back in 2000, when ruling BJD’s now powerful MLA and State Spokesperson, Pratap Kehari Deb, the Junior Scion of the famous Aul Royal Family that packed with veterans like late Raja Sahebs Brajasundar Deb and most respected Sarat Deb , mustering his maiden political battle against former MLA Dola Nayak of Congress in Kendrapara’s Aul Assembly seat with Naveen Patnaik taking the battle at State level for the first time, and he was Bikram Das, a man of his 50s taking the lead against all odds in Aul-Kanika and ensured a massive victory for Pratap Deb. In fact, Pratap Deb, who was then in his late 20s was very reluctant to ventured into politics and was insisting her Mother Rajamata Sushree Devi’s nomination but he was Bikram Das, who not only persuaded but also ensured Pratap Deb remain unbeaten in Aul till today by winning as many as 4 Assembly elections out 5 , he fought from 2000 to 2019 till today. Bikram Das was on Wednesday died at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar while under going treatment.
After Pratap Deb’s maiden victory in 2000, Bikram Das remained the one and only next to Aul MLA in BJD till the BJD Spokesperson, scored a Hat-Trick from the seat in 2009 and from 2009 to 2014, the relations between Deb and Das deteriorated leading to expulsion of Das from BJD in the run up to 2014 Assembly polls, the only battle, Pratap Deb lost so far during his 20 years long political career giving a befitting legacy reply to his late father Raja Saheb Sarat Deb and his ailing mother Rajamata Sushree Devi by winning as many as 4 Assembly polls, getting a place in Naveen Patnaik’s Cabinet and representing the ruling establishments in Rajya Sabha and till becoming one of the trusted lieutenants of Chief Minister Patnaik, credit must goes to Bikram Das’s hard work coupled with organisational skills and political acumen.
Till Bikram Das remained with Pratap Deb, he was calling the shots in twin blocks but after his expulsion, he was no way out , instead joined the defunct Congress to remain alive in active politics. But it is true, Das never hurry for any political post, rather Pratap Deb gifted her wife the post of Chairperson of Kendrapara Zilla Parishad.
Chattisgarh’s Raipur based Rajkumar College and Delhi University Alumni, Pratap Deb, since 2000 to till day, never utter a word against Bikram Das in public that shows he has respect for him and even though Bikram Das was sacked from BJD and later joined Congress, he remained soft towards Aul Royal family, from where, he got name and fame and a small village like Kalikapur’s Jarisahi in Rajkanika, became hotbed of anti-Congress politics for Pratap Deb and Bikaram Das Duo for about 2 decades from now. Even tough, Pratap Deb is now a master of politics in Aul-Kanika and unbeaten figure and as well as good command in Party , Bikram Das’s contribution can’t be misinterpreted or ignored.
Before managing Pratap Deb’s political career, Bikaram Das too worked with Aul MLA’s late father and ailing mother as he has been active in politics since 1964, when Raja Saheb Sarat Deb was active in politics in Praja Socialist Party. After Raja Saheb’s sad demise while serving as Janata Dal’s Kendrapara Lok Sabha MP, he was Bikaram Das, another 2 former Block Chairman of Aul and Kanika , Jayadev Das and Bhaskar Samal, played a key role behind Rajamata Sushree Devi’s victory in 1990 and Biju Babu became Chief Minister, Cuttack bifurcated, Kendrapara emerged as a new District in 1993.
And when Sushree Devi opted out from active politics, Pratap Deb more or less depends on Bikram Das, Jayadev Das in Rajkanika and Bhaskar Samal in Aul to steer his political journey. And with Bikram Das’s demise, all most all BJD veterans in Aul and Kanika , left their sweet memory with the junior scion of Aul Royal Family, Pratap Deb, the sitting Aul MLA and left for their heavenly abode .
