BJD’s support to Droupadi not compulsion but love for Odisha’s daughter

Bhubaneswar, July 9 (Surjit Kumar Dhal) : Without the support of the Biju Janata Dal the race to Raisina Hill for NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu was an uphill task. But the BJP has misconstrued the gesture of the ruling party in Odisha. It is another matter what Prime Minister Narendra Modi did before nominating Murmu for the post. Whether he spoke to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other Chief Ministers or not is not clear. But when Naveen says he was consulted he cannot be doubted. Naveen was the first Chief Minister and leader of a political party who supported the candidature of the Murmu instantly and quickly asked his partymen to support her without any hesitation. Murmu has acknowledged the fact and claimed the Chief Minister, whom she has termed as her ‘brother’ was the first one to call her up from abroad as the announcement was made. But the BJP has been trying to stake claim that Murmu’s choice was in a binding on the Biju Janata Dal. This is far from correct.

Before the announcement was made, in June Naveen during his New Delhi visit had told a national television that the question of support will arise once he knows about the candidate. “BJD’s support will be on the condition that the name is first announced,” he had categorically stated during the interview. Hence no one, including the BJP leaders, should have any misgivings on the issue. Murmu’s acceptance by the BJD was under the condition that she is a tribal, a former member of the Odisha Assembly and a woman. BJD has always been harping on empowerment of the women and initiated a slew of measures to empower the women through governance. Mission Shakti of State Government is the brightest example and other states in the country are now trying to replicate it. Therefore,  when Murmu’s name crop up, the BJD did not hesitate to support her.

The type of reception the Biju Janata Dal or Odisha Government gave her during her visit to Odisha on Friday, is an indication of the party’s love and respect for her. But the BJP tried to steal the show in vain. She did speak to BJP MLAs and MP at the State guest house but that does not mean she was the BJP candidate. It was because she was the choice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. If any BJP leader has any misconception that BJD fell in line with the BJP, they he or she is totally wrong.

It was Naveen Patnaik, even being a Chief Minister went all the way to speak to Congress Legislature Party leader Narasingha Mishra to support Droupadi Murmu. With numbers on his side he could easily have ignored calling Mishra or deputing BJD Organisation Secretary  Pranab Prakash Das to approach Mishra. Mishra admits in public that Naveen did speak to him and Das did approach him. But he falls short of saying that whether as an Odisha MLA he would support Murmu’s victory is sealed now and the support of Congress in Odisha is immaterial for the election.

One thing is certain, without the support of the BJD, the victory of Murmu was not at all easy at a time when the opposition parties under the leadership of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was trying to put up its candidate in the form of former Union Minister Yashwant Sinha. It was a touch and go issue till the BJD announced its support.

Finally, it was Droupadi Murmu, who admitted that Naveen Patnaik has his kept word to help his ‘Rakhi Sister’ when needed.

The best part of the story is that as soon as BJD extended support to Murmu in the presidential election, more opposition parties such as YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh, JMM in Jharkhand and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra have come out with their support also. By the time the election is held, Murmu will find herself in a very comfortable situation in the race.