Panda's Minefield

BJD believes it can tackle the banner of revolt raised by the Pandas, even as BJP prepares to capitalise on any slip-ups

- Barkha Dutt

The closure of two chromite mines in Odisha owned by Indian Metals and Ferro A l l o y s ( I M F A ) — a f t e r the state’s Pollution Control Board refused clearances—captures the twists and turns of a brewing battle in Naveen Patnaik's political fiefdom. The mines, now shut for over two months, are run by Subhrakant Panda, brother of Biju Janata Dal MP, the suave and well-connected Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda.

The collision between the company which employs more than 6,500 people and the pollution-watchdog has come at a time when an expansionist BJP sees Odisha as its next electoral target, and when Jay Panda has been accused of proximity to the BJP. Jay was recently removed as BJD spokesperson, not long after he wrote a critical editorial calling for his party to introspect and learn from its poll knockdowns. One legislator accused him of trying to incite a split in the party; another’s supporters flung eggs at him during a constituency visit.

But, seemingly unfazed, he argued that he had only taken his cue from the chief minister. “My call for introspection in the BJD goes back to the past three years of the party’s situations. My public statements on that came only after the party’s setback in the panchayat elections and party president Naveen Patnaik’s similar public call for introspection,” Panda told me.