By D.N. Singh
At the stroke of six more gongs and the voters are ready for the second phase of the polls in Odisha. Which is likely to sound the wake-up call for many politicians undergoing a blistering campaign exercise. With the summer heat and dust sending the people and candidates soaked in the puddles of perspiration , it is not hard to guess the high rate palpitation among the leaders in the waiting for the third & fourth phase.
There are five Lok sabha and 35 Assembly seats coming under the second phase and the one that has sprung a kind of surprise among many political think tanks, is the BJD candidate for the Aska Lok sabha in Ganjam district i.e Pramila Bisoi.
Notwithstanding the criticism from several quarters over her near illiteracy, simplicity and lack of political prudence, this lady at last broke her silence and proved that she can float above the pitfalls .
Exuding an air of unambiguous respectability, Pramila does not know her invisible route to the future in politics but, her disarming honesty has no fear of what lies ahead. Whether it is the fear of a loss or a jubilant explosion of victory, Bisoi seems unfazed by such coaxing rants by the modern day political pundits who fear, as how would she fit into the pompous parliamentary climate representing her people.
Having studied up to class three, not conversed with either English or Hindi , nor even the minimal oratory skill in Odia, let us assume that she will be one among many such decorative faces, whether in the upper house or the lower house.
If such traits in other members in the above houses does not make the parliament tremble with shame or guilt, then so be it by one like Pramila. Playing good cricket and breaking many records if it could help Sachin Tendulkar to be in the Rajya Sabha doing nothing, Bisoi, battling with many odds in the parched bosom of Ganjam to spearhead groups of SHGs, racing up ahead towards self-empowerment, one can’t downplay the case of this 70 year old matriarch.
She may not be like a bright-lit tableaux as many film stars there, but by her hard work at the grass-root and an unintelligible quality of work more speak less, Pramila should have a chance.
