Bhubaneswar: The fate of senior BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab’s fate seems to be hanging in balance with the BJD-BJP alliance talks gaining momentum with each passing day.
Bhartruhari has been the steady face of BJD from Cuttack as he has been elected six times from the Lok Sabha constituency since 1998. But his growing proximity to BJP in recent times may prove costly for him in 2024 general elections.
Be it praising Union Education Minister Dhamendra Pradhan or meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, he has not been thrifty in showing his bonhomie with BJP. It has also led to the speculation that he was preparing the ground to jump the wagon and contest as BJP candidate from the constituency.
But the possible BJD-JP alliance has thrown him into typical murky waters of politics. Now he finds himself riding in two boats. While the BJD has been insisting on keeping Cuttack for itself in the seat-sharing talks, Bhartruhari may get sidelined for his saffron leaning.
Meanwhile, the name of corporate big shot Santrupta Mishra is making rounds as probable BJD candidate for Cuttack. If BJD retains the seat in alliance talks and offers Cuttack to Santrupta, who was born in Puri and brought up in silver city, it will leave Bhartruhari in no man’s land.
Moreover, Dr Purnachandra Mohapatra, who has been appointed as vice-president by the BJP after he joined the party, is perceived as the candidate of the party for Cuttack Lok Sabha seat. He has also been found making marathon meetings at grassroots level in the constituency since coming into BJP.
