Congress humiliates Orissa; as Srikant Jena accepts MoS Berth
24/7 News Network: During the election campaign in Orissa, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ajay Maken promised a lot to the people of Orissa. However, when it came to delivering on their promises, they did little. While Dr. Manmohan Singh inducted 78 Ministers in his Cabinet, Orissa was humiliated with just a single MoS berth for Srikant Jena, who served as a Cabinet Minister during the tenures of former PMs HD Devegowda and IK Gujral.It's an irony that Srikant Jena, who from Balasore Lok Sabha seat, swallowed the humiliation without much protest. Had he refused the MoS berth, he would have upheld the pride of Orissa at the Centre. But he had to give in to the diktats of the Congress leadership and accepted the relegation with a wry smile.
Mr. Srikant Jena is a very senior leader and he held important portfolios like Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism in 1996-97 under HD Devegowda and IK Gujral. Since he was a former Cabinet Minister, it was expected that Srikant Jena will get at least a MoS berth with Independent Charge. But that did not happen.
While the Naveen Patnaik wave swept all other parts in Orissa, people in Western Orissa, still reposed faith in the Congress and sent 5 out of 6 Lok Sabha MPs. Congress improved its tally to six in the 2009 elections, as compared to two in 2004 elections.
Senior leader and former Union Minister Bhakta Charan Das, who won from Kalahandi, was a front runner for a Cabinet berth. But he was ignored. Former CM Hemananda Biswal, who won from Sundargarh, by beating BJP stalwart Juel Oram, was also ignored.
Orissa deserved at least two Ministerial berths in Manmohan Singh's Cabinet. However, it had to be content with just a single MoS. It could be the failure of State Congress leaders, who hardly showed any resistance or were able to prove their point before the Central leadership.
According to latest reports, Srikant Jena got the portfolio of MoS for Chemicals & Fertilisers. He will work under Cabinet Minister MK Azhagiri, who is a first-time MP and was chosen for the post of Cabinet Minister just because he is DMK Supremo M Karunanidhi's son.
Labels: Politics
posted by BreakingNewsOnline @ 6:26 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
I would really believe that any form of future for the decrepit congress organization in Orissa looks improbable for years to come.
KP Singh Deo has finished Congress in Orissa. Sack him immediately.
what a humiliation orissa has been handed over by the congress high command.only 1 mos out of six MPs?the BJD tsunai was checked in western orissa due to excellent leadership and organisational skill of Mr.bhakta das..he is the only working president who not only won his lok sabha election but also orchestrated the victory of 16 MLAs and $ MPS fron his area of operation.he was a minister in chandrasekhar and vp singh govt and handled important ministry of railways..his due credential is overlooked.he is more than deserve a cabinet berth frm orissa.is the high command listening?
wewant bhakta das as a cabinet minister.
This apathy towards the state of Orissa is not new. We have seen it since Jawaharlal Nehru's days, and still continues. I feel sad for Mr Jena, for he should not have been humiliated in such a way. I hope the oriya pride remains intact.
Congress humilating oriya & orissa.Orissa got 6mps out 3 could be ministers..what abt karnataka & HP...How many MP the given to UPA..why the got so many ministers?There is no need to work under a junior MP..
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