BJD rebels may spoil show

Feel-good factor within the BJD, driven by Naveen Patnaik's "clean image", received a setback recently.

The feel-good factor within the BJD, driven by party president Naveen Patnaik's "clean image", received a setback after the list of candidates for the assembly elections was released. Patnaik denied tickets to 17 sitting MLAs of the party including assembly speaker Sarat Kar and former minister of state Amar Satpathy.

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This has raised doubts about whether Patnaik is guided solely by the "winnability criterion" in selecting candidates or has allowed other considerations like personal loyalty in distributing tickets.

The 29 new candidates chosen for the assembly elections may find the going tough if the "old guard" enter the fray as independent candidates.

Political observers feel that Patnaik has taken a bold gamble.

If the "old faces" had indeed lost contact with the electorate in their respective constituencies, which necessitated such an overhauling, then Patnaik is obviously hoping the new candidates can again reach the masses.

This gamble can succeed only if it is assumed that the "old faces" can pose no problems for the official nominees. But the "old faces" may be down, they certainly are not yet out. And they are sharpening their knives.

BJD strategists are aware of the inherent dangers, but they are pinning their hopes on Congress aspirants who will be denied tickets.

But the voices of dissent within the Congress are muted after the release of its first list of 98 candidates.

Patnaik is popular, but he is yet to hone his skills as a political strategist.

PCC president J.B. Patnaik, on the other hand, may not be very popular, but he is a seasoned campaigner who will hardly miss a chance to exploit the cracks within the BJD.