Samikhsya Bureau
The roads ahead for the Bharatiya Janata Party appear undulated as regards the NRC, which has suddenly turned to be quixotic as a project.
The banners opposing the NRC have grown in number as ten states, including Odisha, one of the frontline states opposing NRC, have straight denied to allow it in Odisha.
But, among all the ten states, who are either opposed or deny to accept NRC, most of the states are non-BJP ruled but, as far Odisha is concerned, the matter is bit worrisome. Which is officially non-BJP but politically a persistent supporter of the NDA.
Odisha has more worries
That’s simply because, in the NDA2 phase, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik appear much less enviable than ever before; negotiating in between many odds to strike a balance and not to falter under any pressure such as political vengeance arising out of any discord with the Centre.
However, there is one reason that may assure Patnaik some breather, that is the reduction in the number of Lotus in the ponds.
Shrinking Lotus !
And it is not about that, that the lotus has suffered from the deadly environmental climate change but, experts view it as a political climate change.
Else, for Biju Janata Dal holding a contrarian view to the centre may usher few discomforts for Odisha government. Which is an inside story which may, or may not, last long if the Lotus show further signs of shrinking after the ensuing assembly polls.
Situation is a catch-22 one
For among all the states readying to oppose the NRC, Odisha’s opposition is free from the diabolic discourse as in many states like, Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattishgarh ,Rajasthan or Andhra Pradesh.
Patnaik has been careful enough to hold his views unlike many of his counterparts in other states. Patnaik is the only chief minister who never fired tirades at the Centre over NRC.
When the time comes for the legislation of the NRC and made into a law, then it will be all about test of guts for the Odisha chief ministers to face the headwinds.
Then it might be a catch-22 situation for Naveen Patnaik, specifically, in the backdrop of a bonhomie between the state and BJP that remains blurred by an enigma.
