States: Orissa; Fading Charm

Bouquets are something Naveen Patnaik, Union minister for steel and mines, is used to. But last month the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and son of the late Orissa chief minister Biju Patnaik knew what it was like to be showered with brickbats. For the first time in his brief political career, Naveen got a sneak preview of how turbulent the going can get. And how quickly his charm can fade on his home turf -- Orissa.

On his way to address bjd rallies in coastal Orissa -- first at Salepur and then Kujung -- irate party workers stopped his motorcade, heckled him, dragged out some senior leaders accompanying him and roughed them up. They also smashed the arches erected to welcome him.

FLAWS WITHIN

Naveen's ignorance of Oriya is a major liability.

Accused of compromisingg Orissa's interests at the Centre.

His dependence on a small coterie has alienated others.

Thanks to the police, Naveen escaped unhurt, but there was no escaping loss of face. The BJD chief dismissed the unsavoury incidents by saying "a handful of disgruntled elements were trying to create a scene", but it was clear he was only trying to play down the extent of dissent in his party. Though the immediate cause of their ire is the induction of some Janata Dal leaders from the region into the BJD, coastal party leaders, led by political affairs committee chairman Bijoy Mohapatra, have been ranged against Naveen for some time. Says Mohapatra: "BJD is grossly mismanaged. Instead of instilling confidence, all that the party breeds is frustration and confusion." The fallout is that the nascent BJD is in danger of a split, an eventuality dismissed by Ramkrushna Patnaik, leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly. Says the Naveen loyalist: "A minuscule section of partymen cannot force a split." Mohapatra too says he will not split the party.

However, unless Naveen irons out the simmering differences, there could be trouble in the future. Already partymen are questioning his capability as the inheritor of Biju's legacy. "Naveen is refusing to grow up as a politician," says Kalpataru Das, a BJD legislator. Naveen's laid-back style of functioning, his ignorance of Oriya -- his mother tongue -- and his dependence on a coterie of leaders from western Orissa have worsened matters.

A major grouse of partymen is that Naveen has compromised Orissa's interests at the Centre for personal gains. "Rewarded with a union ministership, he is too loyal to the BJP," says one BJD MP. However, Naveen denies this, claiming credit for the 40 per cent hike in the state's plan outlay. Some partymen also accuse him of failing to keep his promise of getting Orissa a "special status" for more monetary aid. Though Naveen insists that he had only pledged special "attention" and not "status" during the election campaign, the BJD manifesto belies his claim. The party is also seen as a compliant BJP ally, but the trouble is the BJP doesn't return the compliment. Says state BJP President Juel Oram: "We can form a government in the state on our own." Increasingly seen as the BJP's B-team, many feel the BJD will eventually be gobbled up by it.

Being Biju's son Naveen still enjoys the people's goodwill. But he will have to wean himself away from the Union ministry and focus on state politics if he is to encash that goodwill -- and keep his flock together.