The All-India Congress Committee’s alleged “heavy” reliance on a particular family in Orissa has proved “perilous” for the party. So much so that ever since 2000 when it lost power to the BJD in the state, it is desperately trying to regain its lost ground.
However, due to rejection by voters in the last four Lok Sabha and three Assembly polls, the party’s strength is steadily shrinking.
According to experts, heavy reliance of the AICC leaders on octogenarian J.B. Patnaik, his family members and relatives weakened the Congress in Orissa.
More known as JB, Mr Patnaik ruled Orissa for three terms from 1980 1985, 1985 to 1989 and again from 1994 to 1999.
The first two terms of Mr Patnaik were marked by controversies. Rising atrocities against women and anti-social activities, corruption and finally the murder of a journalist’s wife made the party unpopular, forcing the AICC leaders to ask him to step down in 1989. Voters threw the Congress out of power in 1990.
In 1995, when Giridhar Gamang was the PCC president, former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao announced in a meeting at Cuttack that JB will never become CM if the party was voted to power. It ensured huge victory for the party. However, though not an MLA then, he made a “backdoor” entry through his AICC connections and again became chief minister.
As the state once plunged into chaos similar to his earlier two stints, the Congress president removed him from the CM post. However, he was given the responsibility of the Pradesh Congress Committee as its president. With an opportunity in hand, voters rejected the Congress in the 2000 Assembly elections.
Soon after the elections, JB was replaced by Sarat Patnaik and the party did well in the 2002 panchayat elections. However, just before the 2004 Assembly elections, he was again back as PCC chief, giving a shot in the arm to the BJD.
The ruling party, during the campaign, reminded the deterioration of law and order and insecurity of women folks under JB’s rule, thus pre-empting JB’s plan to occupy the hot seat again.
Though the Congress suffered drubbing in the 2004 Assembly election, JB managed to win from Begunia constituency and managed to occupy the Congress Legislature Party leader’s post, sending a message he was still holding the reins of the party.
Such an unexpected development gave yet another opportunity to the BJD which, despite being caught in a number of scams and scandals, retained power.