Days after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s pep talk to cadres here to strengthen the BJP from the grassroots, Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s scheduled visit to Mayurbhanj on Friday has given rise to speculation of renewal of rivalry between the two parties in the tribal heartland.
Mr. Patnaik will visit Mayurbhanj, the home district of President Droupadi Murmu, to inaugurate irrigation projects on the Subarnarekha and Deo rivers on Friday. Subarnarekha is an ongoing project that began in 1994. Of the 1.14 lakh hectare land of irrigation potential in Mayurbhanj and Balasore districts, only 15,000 hectare has been covered. The Odisha CM will launch works to bring another 17,000 hectare under the irrigation project. The Deo irrigation project will irrigate 9,900 hectares in Mayurbhanj and adjoining Keonjhar districts.
As there is no election round the corner, Mr. Patnaik’s visit would have been treated with no political significance. However, the visit to Mayurbhanj, where tribals constitute 58% of the district’s population, is taking place days after the party – apparently for the first time – celebrated World Tribal Day on August 9 on a major scale. It was seen as the BJD’s concerted effort to consolidate its image as a pro-tribal party.
