West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at Navin Niwas in Bhubaneswar. File
| Photo Credit: Biswaranjan Rout
Amidst speak of revival of third Opposition entrance forward of 2024 elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is meeting leaders of non-Congress Opposition events. But, nothing much should be expected from her scheduled meeting with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Ms. Banerjee, who’s presently on a 3 day go to to Odisha, is more likely to meet Mr. Patnaik on March 23, a day earlier than her meeting with former Karnataka Chief Minister and Janata Dal (S) chief H.D. Kumaraswamy in Kolkata.
The West Bengal CM scouted for doable websites for a proposed visitor home for devotees coming from West Bengal to the coastal city and would go to twelfth Century Shree Jagannath Temple at Puri on March 22.
A senior chief in Biju Janata Dal sources stated, “Trinamool Congress chairperson is widely known as an ardent devotee of Lord Jagannath. Before the last Assembly election in West Bengal, she had invited Sevayats [priests] of Shree Jagannath Temple to perform a special worship for smooth sailing of her party in election. This time, she is in Odisha purely for her spiritual sojourn.”
“Mr. Patnaik, who is known as courteous person, will definitely host or meet his counterpart. In the past, he had extended same courteousness to other leaders irrespective the party they belonged to. Nothing much should be read into the meeting between two leaders,” he identified.
BJD’s acknowledged ideological line is that the occasion will hold equal distance from each the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. Under this circumstance, it apparent to think about Mr. Patnaik an acceptable constituent of the ‘Third Front’ that’s being talked about.
But, Mr. Patnaik had by no means expressed nationwide ambition of going past the boundary of Odisha and continued to consolidate occasion’s energy as a regional participant having ‘cordial’ relationship with the occasion on the Centre.
Odisha CM might not be seen supporting the BJP overtly, however he has by no means gone towards the saffron occasion issuing vociferous statements like Telangana Okay. Chandrashekar Rao, Ms. Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal or different Congress leaders towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his occasion. In truth, the BJD had too prolonged help to the BJP in passing essential payments in Parliament, particularly within the Upper House the place the saffron occasion was in need of majority during time.
“Alliance with any parties other than the BJP, the Congress at the Centre would not bring in much dividend for Mr. Patnaik nationally. He has been negotiating with NDA leadership on his own terms. The BJD is cruising along in the State capturing power for five successive terms and does not need help of parties,” stated Rabi Dash, a veteran journalist and political commentator.
During his 25 years in lively politics, he had hardly been photographed once in a while of showcasing of Opposition unity towards both the NDA or the UPA, stated Mr. Dash. Moreover, the Opposition unity towards the BJP-led Government on the Centre had not gained much momentum in final one yr. So the Odisha CM is seemingly not tempted to affix the coalition.
“If the BJP makes some drastic move to unsettle his government, then he would require Opposition parties to counter the former. There is no such serious attempt seen on part of State unit of the BJP. He also sees no threat from the Congress. So Mr. Patnaik is currently happy enjoying a government facing no grave challenge from the BJP or any Opposition,” stated Satya Prakash Nayak, former Congress chief and a political analyst.
Positioning on the correct facet of central dispensation would earn him extra Central help and guarantee lesser variety of visits by investigating businesses, Mr. Nayak stated.
When Mr. Banerjee landed in Bhubaneswar on March 21, she stated, “Odisha CM is a senior politician. The meeting with Mr. Patnaik will be courtesy visit.”
