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'The Orissa Congress and assembly members are not treated as human beings'

While there was hectic activity at the Orissa chief minister's home in Bhubaneswar where Janaki Ballab Patnaik was in an informal meeting with his successor, Girdhar Gomango, senior politician and former CM Nandini Satpathy was disappointed with Sonia Gandhi's decision to 'impose' a chief minister on the Congress Legislature Party.

Still questioning Patnaik's 'moral authority', the veteran politician is of the opinion that though 39 per cent of the state consists of tribals -- a tribal CM and the presence of tribal Pradesh Congress Committee president Hemananda Biswal -- the Congress could alienate itself from the non-tribal electorate.

Clearly stating that she had nothing against Gomango, she spoke to Chief Feature Writer Archana Masih about the recent chain of events in Orissa politics.

How did the political activity unfold yesterday?

I met the observers yesterday afternoon and told them many things. I mainly told them that I would like somebody from the CLP to be chosen as the next leader. I asked them not to impose anybody on us. They listened to be patiently -- thanks to them. There was a meeting scheduled for 4 o'clock, it was postponed till 7. When we met again, a resolution was passed and the decision was left to the AICC president. On seeing this I said we had to say something. The meeting was again postponed till 9.30 pm.

At that meeting, Madhavrao Scindia spoke very highly of J B Patnaik. He then gave the mike to Pranab Mukherjee. After speaking for some time, he ultimately said they had consulted with the AICC president and Girdhar Gomango was the next CM. Pranabbabu asked J B Patnaik to propose his name (Gomango) and PCC President Hemananda Biswal supported it. I then walked out. I said namaste and left.

You said you didn't want the AICC to impose a leader, were there any other members of the CLP who supported you on this?

I didn't try to get any support. I am a person who has never believed in groupism or lobbying.

When you left the CLP meeting, did anyone else leave with you?

No, I was alone. I have always been alone. I am a lone fighter.

What do you think should have been done when the CLP could not arrive at a consensus?

There were a number of persons in the CLP who could have become CM, but the AICC president said something that was accepted, nobody...

...Nobody apart from you questioned the decision?

So, what can I do?

People say Gomango does not have the required support to win the assembly election for the Congress later this year?

Gomango is confined to his constituency. Whether he knows his constituency very well, I have my own doubts about it. I think he has very little idea about other parts of Orissa.

Isn't it a drawback to have a CM like that when the assembly election is not too far?

No, if people like J B Patnaik and other senior leaders support him and go on campaigning for him, then they can do well.

But don't you think it's a disadvantage to have a CM who is not very familiar with the state?

He is not familiar with the state. Naturally when somebody is not familiar with the state, there must be some disadvantage.

Would that mean it would affect the party's chances in the state?

Maybe.

If you see the case of Madhya Pradesh -- Digvijay Singh's political acumen contributed a great deal in pulling the Congress against the odds in the MP election. Isn't the Congress in trouble with a relatively unknown CM?

If only one knows the state and the workers in every district, it is then that it becomes very possible for him/her to win elections.

You know the politics of the state, do you think Gomango -- seen as an outsider in state politics -- is going to get the support of the state party members?

I cannot say anything. Let us see. If senior Congress leaders really support him, then maybe we'll get good results.

As of now you are not very sure?

I am not sure. I have nothing against Gomango, that I must tell you. I know him. I brought him to politics. He was a primary school teacher. I like him very much. I have absolutely nothing against him. I am always against this imposition from Delhi. Whoever he or she maybe. Why should they impose these things on us? Are we not human beings? Are we not elected MLAs?

Do you think J B Patnaik was unlucky to have lost the top post -- especially in the light of the rape of the nun and rape and murder of the tribal girl -- the former being seen as a hoax and the latter an incident which was not directed at the Christian community?

That you would have to ask J B Patnaik. I am surprised on what moral ground has he resigned. There are so many cases of rape all over the state. Where was his morality then? Why suddenly for these two, three incidents concerning Christians, did his consciousness arise?

But right now you are not happy with the way things have emerged.

I am not unhappy. I am happy neither. These things have always been imposed on us. We are not being treated well. The Orissa Congress and Orissa assembly members are not treated as human beings. This is what I feel bad about.

What other earlier incidents have occurred that have helped you arrive at this conclusion?

Lot of things. I don't want to talk about them.

EARLIER INTERVIEW:
'This is not democracy'

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