Looking to turn up heat on BJP govt, LoP Patnaik forms ‘shadow cabinet’, assigns depts to BJD MLAs

“The Opposition party is the custodian of people’s interests. The Opposition party has a significant role to play in the state Assembly. The MLAs will keep close watch on the activities of departments assigned to them and actively take part during discussion of those departments in the state Assembly. They will work to protect the interests of the people,” said a statement issued by the BJD that quoted Patnaik.

BJD sources said the idea behind the move was “to emerge as a strong Opposition party and to counter the BJP government on various issues”.

Patnaik’s move comes a week before the commencement of the first Assembly session after the formation of the first BJP government in the state. The budget session is scheduled to start from July 22 and will continue till September 13 in two phases.

Patnaik’s move is also a clear indication that he would continue to play an active role in Odisha politics and that the BJD would take an aggressive stand against the BJP government in the House.

The BJD members will occupy the Opposition benches for the first time since the party first fought an Assembly election in 2000.

“Those who thought that BJD will no longer be relevant in Odisha politics should take note of our activities including the recent one (shadow cabinet). People of Odisha have given a mandate to the BJP and we respect that. If we feel that the interest of Odisha is harmed in any way, we will take on the government as a responsible Opposition party inside and outside the Assembly,” said a senior BJD leader, requesting anonymity.

Senior BJD MLAs, who had in the past handled various departments as cabinet ministers, have been allotted crucial departments.

Patnaik has assigned former finance minister Prasanna Acharya, who is now the deputy leader of Opposition, the charge of scrutinising the operation of the finance department.

The BJD’s deputy chief whip Pratap Keshari Deb, also a former minister, would keep a tab on the activities of the general administration (GA) department. Former Speaker and minister Niranjan Pujari has been asked to ‘shadow’ the home department.

The roles of both Deb and Pujari are expected to be crucial, with CM Manjhi handling the GA and the home portfolios.

The BJD’s chief whip Pramila Mallik, who had handled multiple departments in the previous Patnaik government besides serving as the Speaker, would look after the panchayati raj and drinking water department.

Through the move, Patnaik would also want the BJD’s young and first-time MLAs to gain expertise on various issues besides ensuring their active participation in the Assembly proceedings, said a BJD leader.

However, a section of BJD leaders, who are “unhappy” over the party “not doing introspection over the recent poll results”, called the move a “survival tactic” and a “corporate way of functioning”.

“The party has been doing these activities to keep the flock together amid speculations that it may disintegrate into various groups. The BJD leadership has to do something to showcase that it is actively trying to bounce back. But why is the party not taking any action against those responsible for the defeat both in Lok Sabha and Assembly polls,” asked a leader.

In the elections to the 147-member Assembly, the BJP won 78 seats as against the BJD’s 51. In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 20 seats out of 21 in the state, with the Congress picking the remaining one seat and the BJD drawing a blank.