Bhubaneswar: After the 2024 general election, the 24-year reign of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government in Odisha has come to an end. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formed the government with a majority. Many of BJD’s aspirations remain unfulfilled, and the BJP is determined to complete them. Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has already started preparing the strategy for the next five years. After losing power, the BJD is now in a state of inertia.
Naveen Patnaik served as the Chief Minister from March 12, 2000, to June 12, 2024. During his long tenure, the BJD achieved several developmental milestones, but it was also marred by significant corruption scandals. If these allegations are true, more details are likely to emerge in the coming days. While Naveen Patnaik once had a security detail of 300 personnel working in three shifts, this has now been reduced to 45. Despite being less active before the elections, he now appears stronger and is managing independently.
Where is Pandian?
V.K. Pandian, a highly discussed figure in Odisha’s administrative and political circles in recent years, remains a topic of interest. After voluntarily retiring from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) last October and joining BJD, he became the second most powerful person in the party after Naveen Patnaik. He held five chairman positions in the previous government. During the 2024 general election, he was a central figure after Naveen Patnaik. From October 2023 to May 30, 2024, Pandian traveled by helicopter daily, even covering distances of about 25 km from Cuttack and Khurda to Bhubaneswar by air. However, following BJD’s defeat in the election, Pandian has disappeared from the public eye. His current activities and whereabouts remain unknown.
Bobby Breaking Down His Bungalow
Pranab Prakash Das, also known as Bobby, a former MLA from Jajpur, is the third most influential figure in BJD after Naveen Patnaik and V.K. Pandian. Bobby Das, the organizational secretary of BJD, lost the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat to Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan by a significant margin. Before the elections, Bobby’s residence was raided. Known for his arrogance and misuse of power, Bobby Das had illegally constructed a palace-like building in a government residential area. After BJD lost power, the illegal construction was demolished about 15 days ago. Following media reports on this issue, three officials from the state’s General Administration Department have inspected the site.
Bobby’s Lavish Bungalow?
When a government residence is allotted to any government employee or minister, certain policies and regulations must be followed. No construction can be carried out without permission in a government compound. Even if permission is granted, one cannot demolish it at will. However, it is alleged that Bobby Das violated these rules. He demolished a grand mansion within his government quarters in Bhubaneswar. The mansion, which included a three-story building, an underground house, a swimming pool, and a rooftop cottage, has been razed to the ground. It is rumored that some individuals are secretly demolishing this structure.
Regarding the demolition of the government bungalow, Pranab Prakash Das has responded, stating, “I was given time until the 4th to vacate the quarters, and I have time until the 15th. Government quarters are handed back as they are taken. I had made some temporary constructions, which are being removed for the convenience and complaint of the people.” He expressed no issue with the demolition of these structures.