Soumya Ranjan Reiterates Stand Against Odisha’s Bureaucratic Model Of Governance

Bhubaneswar: There is a likely threat to democracy amid the prevailing ‘dalatantri’ (keeping party above nation) and what is more worrying is the dominance of bureaucracy over party politics, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik said while speaking at an event on Friday.

This appears to be a continuation of his tirade against the 5T secretary V K Pandian of the Odisha government.

On Friday, Soumya Ranjan, who is also Editor of leading Odia daily Sambad, in his column ‘Ama Ghara Halchal, questioned the estimated Rs 300 crore being spent on chopper tours made by Pandian to different districts ostensibly to collect public grievances.

In his article titled – ‘Janmadinara Anuchinta’, coinciding with his birthday, Soumya Ranjan took a swipe at the governance model in Odisha and reiterated his views on bureaucrats wielding more power than elected representatives.

At a public function later, the BJD MLA said one can aspire to bring changes without being a legislator or a minister. Elaborating further, he said bureaucracy has gained an upper hand as is seen in Odisha and the state has been able to script success in governance only because of its good financial position despite this weird arrangement.

Later speaking to reporters, Soumya Patnaik said that ministers should enjoy a position higher to secretaries. “Unfortunately, our ministers have relegated themselves to the background, allowing bureaucrats to control politics in Odisha.”

The legislator also dismissed BJD spokesperson Anubhav Patnaik’s tweets, criticising him for his column. “I do not give much importance to his statements. Someone might have instigated him to post the tweets,” he said.

Soumya Ranjan, who joined BJD in 2018, is gradually becoming a critic of the Naveen Patnaik dispensation, creating ripples in the state’s political circles.