Cuttack: Pakhala Dibasa celebrations in Odisha’s historic city of Cuttack on Friday took on an unexpected political flavour, as Mayor Subhash Chandra Singh (BJD) savoured the iconic Odia dish with leaders from the rival BJP.
Mayor Subhash Singh, who hosted the Pakhala feast, was photographed enjoying the cooling summer staple alongside BJP leaders Nayan Kishore Mohanty and Smruti Patnaik. The cordial interaction has ignited speculation about potential realignments in the city’s volatile political scene.
In the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections, Mohanty contested from Cuttack-Choudwar constituency on BJP ticket but lost to BJD’s Souvic Biswal by a margin of 17,816 votes.
This bonhomie assumed significance given the recent developments involving the Cuttack-Choudwar MLA, who defied party whip and cross-voted in the March 16 Rajya Sabha election. Souvic later justified his action as “revenge” for alleged injustices faced by his father, Pravat Biswal, who was expelled from BJD last month for questioning the party leadership over selection of Rajya Sabha candidates. His wife echoed this sentiment, attributing the cross-vote to mistreatment of her father-in-law. Seven other BJD MLAs also cross-voted, highlighting internal dissent within the party.
The cross-voting incident had already stirred widespread debate about shifting loyalties in Cuttack with Congress’ Barabati-Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous also defying her party whip to support a BJP candidate. The subsequent display of camaraderie between the BJD mayor and BJP leaders on a culturally significant day has amplified rumours of possible behind-the-scenes outreach or thawing relations amid Odisha’s evolving political dynamics.
The Mayor, however, played down any political interpretation being attached to the feast, which he has been organising for the past four years. “Cuttack’s tradition is of brotherhood. Leaders from across political parties, including CPI state executive member Amarendra Mohanty, Congress’s Kishore Jena, and representatives from the BJD along with corporators attend the event,” he stressed.
Singh noted that this year’s feast held special significance, as efforts are currently underway to secure a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Pakhala. “Prof Bijay Anand Singh and Karabela Mohanty, who also attended the feast, are helping to compile and submit the necessary documentation,” he added.
