Power List-2009
Baijayant Panda Jay in Delhi, Baijayant in Orissa. No adornment needed for this young BJD leader and one of the leading industrialists of the state. The name Jay Panda in the political corridor of Delhi is enough. After becoming the member of Rajya Sabha, he is now a Member of Parliament. He had fought the last Lok Sabha polls while being the Rajya Sabha member, from Kendrapada, the bastion of former chief minister Biju Patnaik. May be, getting a constituency of his choice and accomplishing such unique feat was possible for him owing to his close proximity with Biju Babu as well as his son and the present chief minister Naveen Patnaik. The people of Orissa acknowledge Baijayant’s father Bansidhar Panda, as a leading business tycoon. Though Bansidhar had an inclination to politics he could not be successful in his effort to become a Rajya Sabha member. However, his wife late Ila Panda who fulfilled the long-cherished and unfulfilled dream her husband as she became the member of the Upper House during the tenure of Biju Babu. Emulating the feat of his mother, Baijayant has moved a step ahead after his successful flight to the Lower House. In fact, he has become an identity of the BJD after being a Rajya Sabha member. Even though he has never exerted his power and influence inside the party as one of the closest associates of the chief minister, the party leadership has accepted him as a powerful figure at the outset. His sheer ability and public relations has established himself as a leading political figure in the Delhi durbar. Being a gifted parliamentarian, he is very dear to several leaders irrespective of party affiliations. He was one of the leading members of a parliamentary team which under the leadership of the Lok Sabha Speaker had attended the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Tanzania recently. He was chosen as the member of the team by Speaker Meera Kumar who was deeply influenced by his ability and oratory skills in the Lok Sabha. At the conference, his speech among the 850 representatives of 52 countries was indeed praiseworthy. Contesting polls from Kendrapada Lok Sabha constituency is a major shift in his political career. Like Biju Babu, whose home turf was Kendrapada, Baijayant is also an industrialist-turned politician and a pilot who also has wrested the Kendrapada seat. As regards the apprehension that he would stay away from the people and the constituency after his victory, Baijayant has proved everyone wrong as he has visited his constituency 43 times since the election. Visiting nondescript villages and at the same time, leading the parliamentary team under his leadership to the overseas countries speaks volume of his identity. Even though he has never been in any controversy relating to his exercise of power and influence, it is widely known that Panda is the power centre in the BJD. His intimacy with the chief minister and his performance at the National politics would certainly assure his place in the list of the top political leaders for a pretty long time. Achyut Samant Talk about those names whose immense contribution has given identity to Orissa in the field of education at the national level, the name of Dr Achyut Samant would certainly come to the fore. It may not be possible for any Oriya to achieve such extraordinary feat like Samant who has rose to the pinnacle of success in terms of his profound contribution to the private technical education. Being the first Oriya member of the All India Council of Technical Education, Samant has got the distinction of being a UGC member and the youngest chancellor in the country. Being the founder secretary of the internationally famous KIIT Group of Institutions, his identity has made Odisha prominent in the field of education at the national level. Even though he has no obsession in politics and with no intention to exercise any power or influence while keeping himself away from the ambit of power, he is still powerful. His stupendous success in the field of education has placed him in our power list. In recognition to his success, the Odisha government has taken him as an honourable member of the taskforce to renovate the standard of higher education in the state. He has been conferred with an overseas doctorate award. After putting KIIT at the highest level, he has now dedicated himself to the Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences for the welfare of the poor and needy tribal students. The role of KISS and Dr Samant would create a new chapter. Inspired and influenced by the ideals of the great thinker and pioneer of value-based journalism in Orissa Pradyumna Bal who had embarked on a revolutionary step in the field of technical education, it is entirely the effort of Samant for whom KISs is all set to become the first tribal university of the country. Prior to this, KITT has got the distinction of being the first deemed university of Odisha. Being a bachelor, he is the custodian and guardian of thousands of tribal students. Samant has also brought forth their innate sporting talent to the limelight as they have brought glory for the state by winning the Rugby tournament in London and other sporting events at the national and international level. With his calm disposition and work ethics, Dr Samant is a much-talked-about personality in Odisha. Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo Hailing from a royal family, Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo has made his presence felt in politics. A man of robust personality, KV broke the shackles of monarchy and entered into politics to be directly associated with the people to show his passion for democracy. One of the senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, KV, who had exerted his power and influence in state politics for over a decade, underwent an acid test in the 2009 Assembly elections. Despite massive sweeping Navin wave across the state, he defeated his rival BJD candidate Prikriti Devi and won the Patnagarh seat. His victory was indeed a true reflection of his immense popularity. As a true people’s representative, he has dedicated his life to the weal and woes of the people by shedding his princely behaviour. He has justified his political acumen as a leader of the BJP legislature party. He has successfully redressed people’s problems in the State Assembly. He has held important portfolios like industry, general enterprises and urban development during his two consecutive stints with the Naveen Patnaik government in 2000 and 2004. However, he has become a much-talked-about person with regard to his intense rivalry in family politics. Apart from giving much emphasis to the wildlife conservation, KV is also keen on the socio-economic development of the neglected community. Always in the lookout to further strengthen his party in the state after losing the power saddle in the 2009 Assembly polls, KV became a cynosure by raising the sensational mining scam issue in the State Assembly during its monsoon session that stirred a hornet’s nest in the state politics. This incident is said as the most important event in his political career. Being widely known as an arch rival of his uncle and BJD leader Ananga Udaya Singhdeo, KV has constructed his house in front of the AU’s house at Raj Bhawan Chhak setting aside all prevailing rules and regulations that came on his way. This is a testimony of his sheer power and influence. Amidst the ongoing dispute inside the royal palace Sailashree in Balangir, KV has become a virtual power centre of the state BJP. Pyari Mohan Mohapatra As chief minister Naveen Patnaik is the unanimous leader of the BJD, his party colleague and Rajya Sabha member Pyari Mohan Mohapatra is the path-finder and law-maker of the party. Reversing the political history of Odisha after putting a regional party back in the power saddle for the third time in a row with absolute majority, and, above all, stamping its feet in the domain of national politics with authority, is the outcome of his successful leadership and policy. Naturally, the credit of success of the BJD which rewrote the history in the 2009 elections would go to both Naveen and Pyari Babu. Mohapatra has proved that such changes in politics could be accomplished due his long experience in the administration. It was beyond any stretch of imagination that he BJD which had been going hand in hand with the BJP, could suddenly make up its mind to go it alone. While speculations relating the snapping of BJD-BJP coalition was rife prior to the elections, the decision of the BJD to contest the polls alone seemed unimaginable for the people of Odisha. But it was Mohapatra who, with his immense self-confidence, was sure of the poll outcome in favour of the BJD. His earlier announcement that the BJD would win in ore than 100 seats had created ripples in the political circles. In the end, his assertions came as true as the BJD romped home with over 100 seats. This was not his mere guesswork. He had predicted the outcome with his correct and infallible assessment. In other words, he had already worked out his plan as per his assessments to ensure the success of his party. He took such bold steps after thoroughly understanding the political equations, selecting the deserving candidates and, last but not the least, making a minute study to win over the voters of the state. It cannot be said that the BJD would not have tasted this historic victory had there not been a clear-cut policy and strategy of the party backed by the clean image and leadership of the chief minister. Till date, Mohapatra is considered as a powerful personality both in the BJD and the government as well. Ever since his joining in the politics, he was not a Member of Parliament. After a long gap, he became a Rajya Sabha member. But his power and influence was clearly felt in the party and the government. This has been squarely admitted by all the political parties including the BJD and Opposition leaders. His deft political move, the art of decision-making, foresight and administration have made him a powerful figure. For this reason, while the chief minister is considered as the first power centre, the political analysts consider Mohapatra as the second power centre. He has become an eye of the political storm on a number of occasions. He has been charged with the dismantling of the parties. However, this unfazed bureaucrat-turned-leader has stunned one and all by successfully reversing the nine-year political equations in Orissa overnight. Taking all these into considerations, Mohapatra tops the power list chart even without holding power. Bijay Kumar Patnaik The ‘third floor’ concept during the early stint of chief minister Naveen Patnaik was not discussed. It, however, came up for discussion when the senior IAS officer Bijay Kumar Patnaik worked for a pretty long time as the principal secretary to the chief minister. In fast, the ‘third floor’ had become a power hub after Dr Subas Pani and Ajit Tripathy took over as successive chief secretaries of the state. Inordinate delay in the implementation of government decisions and programmes coupled with public resentment over the delayed justice subsequently paved the way for the creation of ‘third floor’ theory. This ‘third floor’ took up the diversified decisions for which the name of Bijay Patnaik was hotly discussed. Though he has kept himself away from all public functions and political meetings, he has become a familiar name in the power corridors. It is now said that he is the most powerful bureaucrat. He is quite adept in steering the administration clear of any political influence or interference and his decisions are accepted in the administration at the highest level. Everybody, including the ministers, offices and industrialists are desperate to meet him. After the chief minister, the duration of meeting Patnaik is indeed very short. Hence, it is quite natural to see a crowd of people eagerly waiting outside his Secretariat chamber to meet him while the chief minister is either away for lunch or on a tour. Interestingly, there was a sudden rush of political leaders, officers, industrialists and others, who left the Indira Gandhi Park and came over to the Forest Park. The reason of the rush was Bijay Patnaik who used to go for a daily morning walk inside the Park. For these people, this was an ideal place and time to meet Patnaik. But as their number began to swell, Patnaik took his wife with him to the Park. But that also did not deter these people from meeting him. Finding no other way, Patnaik finally stopped going to the Park. He is now going to a gymnasium. During his visit to the Forest Park, he had handed over a man to the police as he followed him and later tried to offer him money at his office. This incident was widely talked among the senior bureaucrats. This quiet and unassuming IAS officer is dearly accepted in the administrative and political circles. Everyone knows that Patnaik is accessible and would listen to their grievances without fail. It does not matter what would be the decision afterwards, but everyone knows that the grievances would be duly presented to the chief minister. His disenchantment to politics has made him very dear to every political leader. On the other hand, it is true that being the secretary to the chief minister, Patnaik commands immense power. Hence the chief minister’s office that has become a power centre concerning Patnaik should obviously be a subject for discussion. And that’s why it is said that above the administrative machinery, Patnaik is a powerful personality. Khirod Chandra Mallick The glorious past of Orissa had cast an aura of influence on him while its nagging poverty had stirred his heart. His innate weakness for social service had failed to contain him with his fat salaried bank job. The person who has made his own identity in the field of social service both at the state and the national level is Khirod Chandra Mallick. Born in Mansada panchayat under Binjharpur block in Jajpur district, Mallick resigned as the senior manager of the State Bank of India in 1994 and formed a NGO, known as Bharat Integrated Social Welfare Agency (BISWA) as its founder chairman. However, the devastating super cyclone in October 1999 had become an acid test for him. With his unceasing effort in providing relief to the distressed people, he became a prominent figure. Since then he has never looked back. With his wholehearted effort to mitigate the miseries of the people living below poverty line, Mallick has become a successful social worker. With the introduction of self-sustenance programmes like formation of self-help groups and micro-finance for the overall socio-economic development of these people, BISWA has been able to enroll over five lakh beneficiaries till date. With his effort, he has been able to provide job opportunities to over 15,000 unemployed youths. Apart from these, this unassuming personality has been working on other social aspects concerning social development, education, health, and awareness. However, some of his critics are of the opinion that the success of Mallick is linked to his sister who is presently a cabinet minister in the present government. All said and done, the foresight, ability, effort, sacrifice and commitment of Mallick who began his work in Odisha and later extended the periphery of BISWA to nearly 11 states speaks volume of his influence in his sphere of work. Ashirbad Behera As the secretary of an affluent organization like the Odisha Cricket Association, Ashirbad Behera had begun his sporting career as an athlete and a football player. Contrary to any cricket-playing nations in the world where the cricketers have the control over any cricketing organizations, in India, the non-cricketers have the control of such organizations does not matter whether they are Jagmohan Dalmia or Sharad Pawar. Similarly, being a person of this ilk, Behera, who has never held a bat in his entire sporting career, is now at the helm of the Odisha Cricket. Cricket has, of late, become a highly profitable and lucrative game. Leave alone matches and tournaments, a cricketer of Odisha playing for the Ranji tournament even earns some lakhs every year quite easily. From this, one can easily imagine the power and influence that the OCA secretary exerts. In his earlier days, Behera was in charge of an athletic organization after being elected as one of the office-bearers of the Cuttack District Athletic Association. Sine then he has emerged as an unassailable figure in the state’s sports political arena. By keeping his rivals at bay, he has been holding the post of secretary of the Odisha Olympic Association as well as OCA since 1988 and 2000 respectively. Contrary to his gross failure in vote politics in Cuttack, Behera has achieved thumping success as a sports organizer. While he is regarded as an influential personality, he has become a subject of criticism in matters relating to nepotism, red-tapism and corruption. Once considered as one of the leading Congressman, Ashirbad has successfully compromised with the then Janata Dal, BJP and the present BJD government to safeguard his position. Be it Dalmiya or Pawar, Behera has been able to exercise his influence on all occasions. Having enormous influence on the state cricket and other sporting organizations, he has displayed his prowess in the 2008 OCA elections in which he silenced his rivals by defeating one of the most powerful leaders of the ruling party despite being a member of a non-ruling party. His efforts in renovating the Barabati Stadium, installation of floodlights, setting up of a cricket academy, a state-of-the-art gymnasium and extension of swimming pool, indoor cricket hall and stadium remain as some of his remarkable achievements. Mahimananda Mishra Beyond doubt, he will remain on top among the leading businessmen of Odisha. Among the wealthy, his name is the obvious choice. Mahima Mishra, as commonly known, laid his feet in the business world and established himself within a short notice on his own capabilities even though his entry was linked to his family. His father was a renowned contractor. As a member of a business family, Mishra’s financial status was extremely bright. However, he shot into prominence in his stevedoring business. Being as its chairman, Mishra is the only Odia businessman to excel in the port-based trading. He has got the status of a powerful and influential person with his stupendous success in multi-trading. His managerial skill, business foresight and his zest to accept challenges remain a secret to his success and power. Besides Paradip, Mishra has also successfully carried out his stevedoring business in other leading ports of the country including Kolkata, Kakinada, Vizag, Haldia and Chennai. With this, he has been able to create his self domain. This apart, Mishra has also profoundly contributed to the infrastructure development in Odisha. Under the Public Private Partnership agreement with the Odisha government for the development of the Gopalpur Port, Mishra, being the chairman of the Gopalpur Port Ltd, has already contributed Rs 36 lakh to the state exchequer, a unique instances in the infrastructure sector. He has set up his own office in major port cities in the country. After getting success in stevedoring and hotel industry, Mishra is planning to become a leading figure in the real estate business in New Delhi. Being an instance in the diversified business in Odisha, his contribution in the field of education and social service is also remarkable. The DPS Kalinga School set up by him bears ample testimony to it. His name is often discussed in the political circles. However, there are times when he has found himself in a pool of controversies and disputes. He has been charged with allegations and accusations. But since these are common instances in the trading circles, Mishra therefore, is not an exception to it. Tara Ranjan Patnaik One cannot make a list of top businessmen of Odisha without mentioning the name of Tara Ranjan Patnaik. Regarded as an established businessman in the marine products export business in Orissa and the country, Patnaik is now the chairman of the Falcon Group that has received the top award at the national level on a couple of occasions. Though a few might have the opinion that the success of Patnaik is attributed to his highly established family and his family link to a high profile Congress leader, the fact remains that his sheer dedication, business management ability and, above all, his trading responsibility have earned him success and recognition. Taking the risk factor in the marine products trade and succeeding in his venture, Patnaik is a unique example in the national and international level. Not only in marine products tage, Patnaik has further expanded his business domain to the real estate and steel industry. It is said that the volume of landed property of Patnaik is more than that of almost all the builders. He remains a role model for others for his plain living, high thinking and capability. Having a soft corner for the needy, Patnaik has never hesitated to provide financial assistance to any person who has sought his timely help. Having a penchant for social service, Patnaik has played a vital role for the setting up of the Bhubaneswar Gold Club. All these have made him one of the most powerful personalities of Orissa. Krishna Reddy No doubt, the much-talked-about person for this year is T Krishna Mohan Reddy. Not only in Berhapur, this unassuming youth, popularly known as Krishna, has been able to take the name of Orissa far and wide across the globe with his sheer perseverance. The dance lovers throughout the country accorded Krishna a special place in their heart when he along with his troupe performed a scintillating dance in the Colors TV channel in the evening on August 22. Like the lotus that growsfrom the mire, Krishna, who hails from a nondescript village Ambapua in Ganjam district, formed the Prince Dance Group by uniting the youths of backward community of his village, and with his unceasing and dogged efforts, his troupe could be able to stun one and all. Such was their performance that it made the entire jury present at the show speechless and awestruck. His effort finally paid off as Krishna was piled up with honours and prizes. By pushing his competitors and emerging as the winner of the mega final of the ‘India Got Talent’ show sponsored by the Colors channel, Krishna and his group were accorded a special recognition as an innovative dance group. Presenting the mythological Kaliyadalan, Dasavatara and the chariot man of Arjuna impersonating as Lord Krishna in the show, Krishna virtually ran through the hearts of the millions of people. Everything runs after the success. But the manner in which Krishna brought up 26 youths hailing from daily wagers’ family and made them soar to such dizzy height, it became an eye-opener for one and all. After being warmly received by chief minister Naveen Patnaik, honours began to pour in on Krishna from several quarters. In recognition to the sterling performance of his group, several institutions came up in open arms to entertain the group lavishly. Prominent builders announced land for the group. Injecting a sense of modernity to the traditional concept and performing with absolute finesse, Krishna has become a class of his own. The striking feature of his group is the two-polio affected youths who used to eke out their living in masonry work. The members of the group, having no ability to communicate properly, have proved their mettle by sheer will power and years of rigorous practice inside a secluded house in their village. To master their dance skill, these group members, who had been cycling from their village to the Gopalpur beach in the morning and running a good distance in the evening, for four years, are now packed with programmes in and outside the state. The felicitation of this group continues till date. The group has got an offer from the Bollywood. However, it already has a two-year contract with the Colors channel. Once a misnomer in Berhampur, Krishna’s popularity has soared sky high across the country. As such, Ganjam district has earned a name in the folk art and several artists and troups have made overseas trips. But for Krishna, who has been able to earn huge fame and accolades overnight in the small screen, it seems a night’s dream for him. Srikanta Jena Srikanta Jena is now a Union minister in the UPA government. Representing Odisha as the Union minister of state for chemicals and fertilizers, Jena was once regarded as one of the most powerful leaders of the erstwhile Janata Dal government holding important portfolios of Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism. However, he has to remain content with his present portfolio as a Congress member. His rise in the politics was astonishing. Jena, who began his political career as a member of the Janata Dal, was the right hand man of Biju Babu. As a lieutenant of Biju Babu, who had held the bat of non-Congress politics, Jena, with his deft political acumen had become a nightmare for the Congress. His political strategy is still discussed in the state Assembly. After the demise of the Janata Dal government in Odisha after Biju Babu’s death, Jena is now a missionary of the Congress. It was believed that the political career of Jena, who was left alone from the Janata Dal after Biju Babu’s death, was over. But this master politician shifted his allegiance to the Congress and was waiting for the kill. The opportunity came in the end as he was made a candidate from Balasore instead of his home Assembly constituency Bari in Jajpur district and his the two other places- Cuttack and Kendrapada where he a sway during his stint in the Janata Dal. To the utter surprise of the political analysts, who saw his candidature as a wrong move, Jena came out with flying colours. It was indeed, a remarkable victory in the sense that when the well-known biggies of the Congress lost the polls in their home turfs, Jena won from a new place. It was beyond any political comprehension that the Congress high command would give him an opportunity in the Union cabinet as he was branded as a non-Congress member. But that too went in his favour. Pushing his victorious party colleagues, he became the Union minister. It might not be unknown to many that the induction of Srikanta in the Union cabinet was the handiwork of a top leader of the ruling BJD government. It was the intervention and instruction of this powerful BJD leader for whom Jena was made a guest at the function of a local vernacular daily. This has made it clear that the efficiency of Jena lies with that power centre. His detractors still sub his identity in Congress as the Biju Congress leader. Still then, Jena has been able to wrest the first opportunity with his shrewd politics. His foresight in politics, sheer brilliance and influence on the Delhi durbar has made him another power centre of the Congress. Taking the position of the Congress in Orissa politics in account, Jena obviously remains a powerful leader. Soumya Ranjan Patnaik Known as a frontrunner in the Odisha media circle, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik is a man of multi-faceted personality. He has been immensely successful in making the ‘Sambad’ an acclaimed vernacular daily and creating an elite readers’ group. He had created a group of eminent short story writers through the erstwhile Oriya magazine ‘Katha’ published by the Eastern Media Group. Being a quality editor, social worker, educationist and politician, Patnaik is a renaissance in the media circles of the state. Always in search of new and innovative ideas, he had launched ‘Sun Times’, a sister concern of Sambad, the first English morning daily that was closed down after some years of publication. Not at the son-in-law of former chief minister J B Patnaik, Soumya Ranjan, with his robust personality, was able to display his political acumen as he was elected as MP from Bhubaneswar in 1996. In spite of having a topsy-turvy political career, he has been able to identity himself as a powerful figure in the media circles. In the field of social service, Patnaik has made the blood donation activity as a mass movement in Odisha. The Eastern Media Group has become one of the leading business houses in the state. Not only Sambad, his other creations like the Kanak TV and Rio Chocolate are also immensely popular in the state. In the field of education, Patnaik has set up engineering college. To facilitate the students interested in journalism, he has set up a college of journalism. To cap it all, Patnaik has revved up his effort to safeguard and maintain the sanctity of Odia language by conducting several competitions in over thousands of schools to generate a wave of awareness among the students through Ama Odisha, another offshoot of the Eastern Media Group that caters to the development of Odia language and culture. Considering his diverse efforts, Patnaik is truly an institution. Barring his weakness and repeated failure in politics, he still remains a cut above the rest in other avenues.