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Hot Seat - Kalindi Behera,
vice-president, BJD
Although you are a vice-president of the party, you seem to be no more in active politics. You were denied a ticket last time. How do you spend your time?
I am with the people. I am working for them and meeting them regularly. I visit my old constituency Salepur on Thursdays, meet the people and interact with them as usual. No one can take away that right from me.
You had recently said that many leaders like you would like to meet BJD president Naveen Patnaik and tell him about what ails the party. Would you like to elaborate?
Those of us who belong to the Biju era will always try to expose those who are trying to tarnish the image of our leader and the party. We will also expose those who, for their personal benefits, work against the leader and speak against the party. We just want to tell Naveen babu about this.
There are reports that some of your colleagues in the party have made lots of money and acquired property. They are giving a bad name to the party. The BJD’s image has been badly hit lately. What would you say on this?
When I was a minister in Biju babu’s government (1990-95), allegations were made that I had earned crores. Biju babu promptly ordered an inquiry and the allegations were found wrong. Now, there are reports that former minister and Rajya Sabha member Kalpataru Das has amassed huge wealth. I am not sure about the veracity of these allegations. But, in the party’s larger interest, an inquiry should be ordered. Following direction of the party president, Kalpataru Das has tendered his resignation from the post of parliamentary party leader in Rajya Sabha. I don’t want to comment on whether this punishment is enough or not. The chief minister is looking into the matter.
Don’t you agree that the party has sidelined you?
The party has not made me a minister or an MLA. But it has appointed me as vice-president of the organisation. It is the prerogative of the leader to select candidates for the elections. Obviously, party workers and people go to those leaders who are active in the field. I must tell you a story — there were no old men in a country because the king had directed his staff to kill all the old men in the kingdom. Only one had managed to survive — thanks to the kindness of his son. There was a drought in that country and the old man, because of his wisdom told his son how to save the kingdom from the drought. The king was immensely pleased with his suggestions and the kingdom was saved.
The immensely pleased king now asked the youth to tell him the secret (wisdom) of his suggestions. The young man told the king that he would reveal the truth if he got an assurance that he would not be killed for revealing the truth. The story speaks about the wisdom and worth of older people.
Will you open your mouth if you get an assurance like that?
Those of us who have been dubbed as “old and dhoti-clad leaders” will certainly speak out on various issues. I have not shut my mouth. I continue to air my voice on various issues. We want Naveen babu’s image and popularity of the party to remain intact. Those who say that the chief minister is responsible for everything, they are wrong. I have said that there must be a thorough inquiry to find out how some leaders have become rich within a short period.
The denial of ticket has virtually ended your political career. Are you not aggrieved?
Yes, I am aggrieved. I have a lot of pain. If A.U. Singh Deo, Kalpataru Das and their sons are favoured with tickets (for Assembly and Parliament), why was I singled out? (Former finance minister Prafulla Ghadai, who was expelled from the party early this week too was denied the ticket. But, his son was nominated again by the party to contest) I have already conveyed my feelings. But being a disciplined soldier, I have accepted the decision of my leader. For me, the party’s interest comes first. The party is the mother to all of us. We should not do anything that will spoils the image of the party and our leader.
Don’t you think you are a victim of conspiracy?
Everyone in this world is power-hungry. If you read history, you will know how Aurangzeb killed so many people to remain in power. Some people might have done something to harm me but I have not spoken against anyone. Rather, I continue to work to enhance the image of my leader. Perhaps the party thinks that Kalindi Behera is unfit to contest, so I was denied the ticket.
Are you keeping quiet because any wrong move by you may harm your MLA-son Chandra Sarathi Behera’s career?
No. I have made it clear to my son that I will say what I would like to say. He may like it or not. He has been an MLA and chairman of a panchayat samiti twice. I tell him to go directly to the chief minister and build a rapport with him on his own. I should not come in between. He should build his own career.
You are a man with rich political experience. What lesson have you learnt during your four-decade career?
There is a big difference between today’s politics and the politics of the past. There is no sincerity today. According to famous writer, the late Surendra Mohanty, one can trust the shadow of a palm tree and the love of a sex worker but not the loyalty of a politician. These days, loyalty can change any moment.
You worked with both Biju babu and Naveen babu. What difference have you noticed between the two leaders?
There is not much difference between their style of functioning. People have accepted Naveen babu and love him more than Biju babu. Like Biju babu, Naveen has the ability to lead the party. But, Biju babu was Biju babu.
What great qualities did you notice in Biju babu?
Before making any comment, I just want to share how I stepped into politics. It was on January 8, 1972. I was a lecturer at BJB College. A college function was on and Biju babu was the guest. Some goons hurled bombs at the meeting venue. I, along with others, surrounded the venue and the meeting continued. I came in touch with Biju babu and later, our relations developed. Biju babu was adventurous, courageous, fearless and straightforward. He always tried to keep his promise. His character influenced me. I even wrote a biography of Biju babu when he was alive.
But those who were close to Biju babu are no more associated with the BJD. They have been sidelined. Do you agree?
Those who were associated with Biju babu have become old. I am a teacher, I am inspired by Biju babu. I don’t know why my friends have distanced themselves from the Biju family and the party.
Is there any truth in Prafulla Ghadei’s allegation that Naveen is surrounded by a coterie?
I don’t believe it. Naveen babu listens to everybody but takes his own decisions. But one thing I want to say that we should not make any statement that would tarnish the image of the leader and the party. The party is bigger than any one. Prafulla bhai is an experienced man. He was the chief whip of Jana Congress government. He has a rich political experience. He should not have spoken to the media on this.
But a section of the BJD is of the opinion that he should have been given a showcause notice to make his stand clear before the party expelled him. Being the vice-president of BJD, what is your opinion?
I have my own limitations as vice-president. The party president has taken the decision and I should not comment on it. It is his prerogative.
lDo you still want to contest Assembly or Lok Sabha elections?
I have no such ambition. But if the party assigns me any responsibility, I will not shy away.
You are the vice-president of BJD. When did you go to the Naveen Niwas to meet Naveen for the last time?
I used to consider the Naveen Niwas as my home. I used to go there every day. As the party has no work for me now, Naveen babu has not called me and so I have not visited the place for quite some time.
What difference have you noticed between the BJD of 2000 and 2014? It is mired in a number of controversies now.
Naveen babu came to power in 2000 banking on Biju babu’s popularity. In 2014, the party came to power riding the popularity of Naveen. Those who say that they have been elected to the state Assembly on their own strength are wrong.
Teacher to politician
• Veteran BJD leader, 71-year-old Kalindi Behera, has served the in the Biju Patnaik and Naveen Patnaik governments as minister
• He hails from a humble background. He did his matriculation from Bhagabati Bidyapitha, Mahanga and graduation from the SCS College, Puri
• After completing his MA in Odia from the Ravenshaw College, he had joined Dhenkanal College in 1968 and served as lecturer in Odia for nearly six years in different colleges including the BJB College in Bhubaneswar, before plunging into politics
• He had represented the Cuttack Sadar constituency in the previous Assembly
• In 2014, he was denied the ticket and his son, who was the MLA from Salepur, was asked to contest from his Cuttack Sadar constituency
What would you have been had you not been a politician?
Had I not been a politician, I would have continued as a lecturer. By this time, I would have retired from the job. Being a writer, I would have concentrated on writing short stories and novels. To my credit, I have written two novels, two books containing short stories, and more than 18 plays. |
