By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: Grapevines are on high that the spin doctors of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik , have now started shifting their approach towards Party’s former stalwart and now BJP National Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda following tussle with Eastern Media Pvt Ltd , which runs Sambad and Kanaka TV.
Such political gossips came at a time when the ruling BJD and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, jointly facing media onslaught of its former Vice President and expelled leader and Khandapada MLA Soumya Patnaik runs ‘Sambad’ and ‘Kanaka TV’.
Few recent events also added fuel to it. Take a close look at these photos taken during the funeral and last rites ceremony of Chief Minister Patnaik’s elder sister and noted author Gita Mehta, who passed away at New Delhi.
It was perhaps for the first time in last 5 to 6 years, that Baijayant Panda meeting Naveen Patnaik at a social gathering. Baijayant was seen paying ‘Namaskar’ to CM Patnaik , to which the BJD Supremo accepted politely and raised his hands in respect. When Naveen Patnaik’s elder brother and Industrialist Prem Patnaik, seen Jay Panda, at the crematorium, which witnessed a restricted entry, he immediately hugged him and exchanged few words.
Even though, there were restricted entry but the BJP National VP Jay Panda was allowed to his pay his last respect to Gita Mehta, which shows some changes in relationship between the Panda and Patnaik family. Such bonhomie between Jay Panda with Prem and Naveen Patnaik, also added more fuel to it.
It may be noted here that, after being resigned from BJD, Jay Panda is now BJP’s National VP and In Charge for Assam and Delhi.
Since Jay Panda’s family runs Odisha’s No-1 TV Channel ‘OTV ‘and the BJP National VP was 4th times former MP as BJD Candidate, in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, twice each, there is possibility of anything miracle as politics is game of uncertainty like cricket match.
Sources also maintained that, since Jay Panda, not very critical towards BJD and Naveen Patnaik in recent years, the BJD Supremo may consider for his ‘Gharwapsi’ before 2024 Lok Sabha Polls if he shown interest for such proposals. Panda was critical towards 5T Secretary VK Pandian but never utter a single word against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Since Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Ashwini Vaishnaw calling shots in Union Government and as well as Odisha BJP, Jay Panda also feeling isolated within the Saffron Party and confined himself between Guwahati and New Delhi and sometimes at his former Lok Sabha seat, Kendrapara in Odisha. If BJD shown interest for his return, Jay Panda may consider it as he knows winning Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat in BJP ticket in 2024 looks very difficult if BJD field any of its popular leader against him, sources argued.
The Economic Offence Wing of Odisha Police Crime Branch, is looking into Bank loan fraud case of Sambad Media Group and the Media Group’s HR Head Baijayanti Kar has applied for anticipatory bail fearing possible arrest while the Newspaper keep continuing its Naveen Patnaik Bashing media coverage since past several months targeting 5T Secretary VK Pandian’s excessive interfere in Government and BJD Party Affairs. The Government has stopped advertisement support to Sambad Media Group, despite being No-1 Newspaper of Odisha in terms in circulation.
BJD also planning to please Cuttack MP Bhartuhari Mahtab , who is looking for a safe place in BJP after Puri MP Pinaki Mishra made Party’s Parliamentary Party leader in Lok Sabha. The recent Cuttack Bus Stand inauguration ceremony speaks a lot about it. Chief Minister Patnaik, who has been distancing himself from Cuttack, MP Mahatab, was seen exchanging cordial words during ceremony, which sparked a fresh speculation.
