June 29, 1998

Naveen Patnaik's laid-back style proves uninspiring.

By Ruben Bannerjee

The meeting of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) packed quite a punch. Coming close on the heels of the party's poor showing in the recent assembly by-elections -- it won just one of the three seats it contested -- everyone expected fire and brimstone. But the sharpness of the attack took even the most blas party members by surprise. And at the receiving end was Union minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik.

The first indication of rebellion came when some legislators strongly opposed Naveen's candidate for the Rajya Sabha polls, A.U. Singhdeo. As tempers rose, a hassled Naveen reportedly threatened to disband the party. The bluster worked and Naveen managed to seize control and push through his candidate's nomination. But the seriousness of the challenge that the younger son of Biju Patnaik was facing became clear on June 18 when Singhdeo failed to get elected to the Rajya Sabha due to massive cross-voting by BJD members.

Today, Naveen still remains the rallying point for non-Congress politicians in the state, but the charm is fast wearing. Many fault him for not cashing in on the headstart he got due to his surname. His laid-back style, in sharp contrast to his father's pugnacity, makes him appear vacillating. A case in point: though the recent heat wave took over 1,500 lives, the BJD did little to pin down the Government. Naveen's lack of even a functional knowledge of Oriya is also decided handicap. "His pedigree is a political asset but his personality a liability," says a BJD leader.

With the BJD in a state of drift, it has been easy for the decimated Congress to regroup. Naveen shrugs off the bypoll debacle: "The state machinery succeeded in carting voters to the booths while we failed to draw out our supporters in adequate numbers." Not everyone absolves Naveen of the blame for defeat. "He is refusing to mature politically," says a BJD leader.

Some are more charitable in their assessment. "Naveen is overwhelmed by the fast turn of events," says Srikanta Jena, Janata Dal leader. A political greenhorn, Naveen was elected twice to Parliament within a year of his father's death and then became a Union minister. His meteoric rise has not coincided with his maturing as a politician. Small gaffes continue to dent his image. For instance, during question hour in Parliament recently, Naveen identified one of his party MPs as "Tatagat". Taking umbrage, the member retorted: "I'm not Tatagat. I'm Tathagata Satpathy."

The truth is simple: Naveen has been unable to strengthen his party. The BJD is yet to start on a membership drive and the party does not even have a state executive committee. It was only last week that he grudgingly agreed to nominate a chief whip and a deputy floor leader. This was after four party MPs threatened to elect office-bearers on their own. Some, however, see this as part of a calculated strategy. "The aloofness and indecision is premeditated," says an MP. As power flows solely from the BJD president, kowtowing to him becomes part of the survival kit. In a proprietory gesture, Naveen holds party meetings not at the BJD office but at his residence.

The battle of wits between those who are close to Naveen and those who are not is proving debilitating for the party. The disaffection was visible at Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's rally on the first death anniversary of Biju Patnaik in April; there was a sparse crowd as a section of the BJD stayed away."

As BJD leaders squabble, even its unconditional support to the BJP-led Central Government has come under dispute. Three party MPs recently staged a noisy walkout in the Lok Sabha, protesting against the alleged neglect of the state in the railway budget. The outburst was directed as much against Naveen as against the Centre. That he still continues to be a draw is perhaps Naveen's only comfort..

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