Bhubaneswar: Strange is the game of politics and stranger are ways of its players. Even as the candidates of rival parties – ruling BJD and opposition BJP – spew venom at each other during the campaign for ensuing elections in Odisha, their bonhomie during Sital Sasthi celebration in Sambalpur raised many eyebrows.
Sital Sasthi, which marks the sacred wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is celebrated as a major festival in western Odisha, particularly Sambalpur. People from all sections of society, irrespective of caste and colour, participate in celebrating the festival.
With Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency going to polls in fourth phase of elections in the state on May 25 and the campaign reaching its peak, the festival also offered an opportunity to the leaders to participate in its celebration to get closer to the voters.
At the same time, it brought the rival candidates to a common platform. But, instead of going after each other’s throats, they were found hugging each other and exchanging pleasantries to present a picture of their political maturity.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is contesting as BJP’s candidate for Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency, and senior BJD leader Pranab Prakash Das, who is the party’s nominee for the seat, not only greeted each other but also were engaged in warm hug at function organised to celebrate Sital Sasthi on Friday.
Similarly, MLA candidates for Sambalpur Assembly seat Jaynarayan Mishra of BJP and Rohit Pujari of BJD sat together with big smiles for a photo-op at another function.
A few days back, Das, who is BJD’s organisational secretary, had targeted Union Minister Pradhan and wanted to know what were his contributions to Odisha. Das even said Pradhan was dreaming to become Chief Minister for the last ten years, but the BJP never declared him as its chief ministerial candidate as he had lost his party’s trust.
It led Leader of Opposition and BJP’s MLA candidate Mishra to retaliate that Das was crossing all limits of sycophancy and making wild charges due to fear of defeat in the upcoming elections.
