Smikhsya Bureau
It would be foolish on the part of the politicians to think that the people would get entertained by the on going ‘invitation’ politics between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Biju Janata Dal. And the political leaders should not be in any illusion that the present day voter is that naïve to get swayed by such exchange of claims on victory even before the EVMs are opened.
The flash in the pan, in fact, was the tongue-in-cheek one liner from Naveen Patnaik, “ he does not deserve a second chance “ aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. And that was perhaps the first ever breach of the rumoured bonhomie between Patnaik and Modi which had not allowed either of the two to speak with such open acerbics.
For the first time Modi pointed his index finger to say that ‘Naveen babu your days are over’ and the second one liner from Patnaik was more a show of his acerbic wit by inviting Modi in advance to his swearing-in ceremony as the chief minister of Odisha for the fifth time.
Nobody has the knowledge to interpret the reality as what transpired such an acrimony between the two most discussed leaders of the day but, there were elements of over confidence from both the sides which is not alien to politics.
But with one more phase of polling remaining it has to have some impact on the voters. But the wiser among the voters may not accede to such hyperboles.
Now, another one to have joined the invitation club is union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who in his day long filibustering in parts of Odisha kept countering the chief minister of Odisha saying that, the latter shall be invited as the ’former chief minister’ to Narendra Modi’s swearing in as the PM for the second time.
As temperatures of campaign rise the tone and texture of the BJD supremo also goes a notch higher each passing day. His latest salvo is that no one will get a majority at the centre and by implication, Patnaik has reiterated his prediction denying Modi a second chance as the PM.
Anyway, it remains to be seen if the invitations would serve swearing ins or farewells !
