JB Patnaik- The Most Feared Old Horse!

D N Singh

It may appear strange to think of Congress in Orissa without JB Patnaik, a name inextricably linked not only to the Congress but to politics in Orissa as a whole almost for the last 32 years. But, this time there is a marked change. The party high command has decided to put a close to his innings abruptly. After being dropped like a hot potato just before one of the most crucial election in the political history of Orissa, the octogenarian war-horse of Congress has been left to sulk in the gloom of neglect. He had perhaps never imagined that such a thing could happen to him. A man who had arrogated to himself the writ to do and undo the political fortunes of many for the 15 years of his uninterrupted rule, is suddenly reduced to a foot soldier without a ticket. Not only JB but his longtime political companion and wife, Jayanti Patnaik has also been dumped from the scene. Once an illustrious couple of Orissa politics, they has been pushed to the sidelines. JB had ignored many indications in the past from the party high command about his lack of use in the party structure; he has been offered either gubernatorial or ambassadorial assignments for quite sometime. But JB declined to be a relic. Which is a strange given his advanced age (86 years); but he is not alone in suffering from this mind-set, many other politicians in India suffer from it too. Like many other disgraced leaders, Patnaik also seems to be taking refuge in the common refrains that he would be enjoying the job of campaigning for the party in the elections. Which, in fact, is a job he has been denied many times during the last five years because it is felt by a section of the Congress that he can always make a dent in the vote bank. During the 2004 elections Patnaik remained virtually incognito, submerged in the twilight of his political decline. Astute and indomitable as a Chief Minister, and a powerful politician for the consecutive 14 years, JB is not able to reconcile himself to the reality of today and refuses to be conquered by a sense of resignation. He has demonstrated his patience during three elections and staged come-backs to power through the back door. Not just his staunch supporters but even critics are of the opinion that he has been denied even an Assembly ticket for the very reason that, if elected he still has the ability to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat by mustering the support in his favour in a post poll disorder.