By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: Politicians come and go but it is the bureaucrats, who run the Country – goes the saying. But the recent spate of high profile civil servants joining different political parties post retirement or after taking voluntary retirement reveals their other side. Babus turning netas is nothing new in Odisha.
Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s Residence Office at Naveen Niwas, Dr Gopabandhu Dash, a former retired bureaucrat from BJD Supremo’s home turf of Ganjam, is gradually griping his hold in the southern district after the fallout of Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi.
Pradeep Panigrahi was expelled from the Biju Janata Dal over alleged anti-people activities and now serving his jail terms over his alleged role in corruption.
Dr Dash, who earlier served as Political Secretary and as well as Additional Secretary to Chief Minister Patnaik, is now calling the shots from Naveen Niwas over Ganjam politics, sources said. Dr Dash might play a bigger role in coming days for BJD in Ganjam, added sources.
Dr Dash, the man behind pro BJD news website, www.newsroomodisha.com, has been very active in content development , which focussed on State’s development backed by Naveen Patnaik’s towering leadership. “Since Dr Dash is very active in Naveen Niwas, leaders from Ganjam making beeline to him and if all goes well, Dr Dash is all set to play his part in coming days,” sources revealed.
Southern district of Ganjam , which houses 13 MLAs and 2 MPs of Berhampur and Aska , always bears political significance and after the fallout of Gopalpur MLA, Panigrahi, things have changed and now people started looking for Dr Gopabandhu Dash to lead them this politically sensitive district, sources added. Out of 13 MLAs, BJD has 12 while Congress had lone MLA of Ramesh Jena of Sanakhemundi while 2 MPs belongs to BJD.
Naveen Patnaik in Hinjili, Minister Bikram Arukha of Bhanjanagar, Srikant Sahu of Polasara, Latika Pradhan of Kabisuryanagar, Surayamani Baidya of Khalikote, Subash Pradhan of Chhatrapur, Manjula Swain of Aska, Purna Swain of Surada, Pradeep Panigrahi in Gopalpur, Bikram Panda in Berhampur, Speaker Surya Patra of Digapahandi and Usha Devi of Chikiti while 2 MPs included Chandra Sekhar Sahu of Berhampur and Pramila Bisoi of Aska.
