Rourkela: Rourkela celebrates Boita Bandana with pomp and gaiety every year. However, this year’s celebration looks like a big political showdown between two leaders, both belonging to BJD; thus bringing out in the open the infighting within the party here. There are a couple of associations that celebrate Kartika Purnima. Prominent among them are the Utkala Sanskrutika Parishad (USP) which has been doing it for the last two decades, and the Civil Township Sanskrutik Parishad (CTSP).
On the surface, the apparent aim is to commemorate the rich cultural heritage of the state. However, in reality, the entire celebration is to establish political prowess. USP is led by Kuna Bihari Das, the chairman of the state Youth Welfare Board. Its second press meet made it clear that there would be no place for the local heavy-weight and Minister for Labour Sarada Nayak. The guest list showed Hockey India Chief Dilip Tirkey, Energy Minister Pratap Deb, who doesn’t pull well with Sarada and Raghunathpalli MLA Surat Tarai, and others. Kuna and Sarada, once very close, are almost sworn enemies now. “Sarada was always invited to Sector-2 USP’s celebration. Now because Kuna is against him, he is not being invited. It is a kind of snub,” said a Sarada supporter. Das has made his intention of contesting from Rourkela clear.
This has become the reason for the differences between him and Sarada. But, another Sarada follower said, “He thinks by organising the Jiban Bindu he will from here. Does he even have a cadre base with him? And he no longer belongs to Rourkela because his family has moved from the city, lock, stock, and barrel. Rourkela doesn’t need another Gurupada Nanda (referring to the late Congress MLA).” Meanwhile, the CTSP, which began celebrating only in 2022, is also leaving nothing to chance. It is organising a star-studded night. The guest list shows the names, among others, Sundargarh district observer and Minister Priti Ranjan Ghadei and Sarada Nayak. It is no secret that Sarada and Priti, pull on together. “We know Sarada is behind the celebration there because of obvious reasons. But, who cares? We are not bothered about it,” said a USP volunteer. This development has certainly added much ammunition to Rourkela’s political atmosphere.
RAJESH MOHANTY, OP
