Whether in power or out of it, Biju Patnaik always set his own pace. For more than four decades, he strode across the political arena like a colossus, leaving an imprint on all those he led or opposed.
He had the ears of Pandit Nehru and then his daughter, Indira Gandhi, but he did not think twice before walking out on the Congress when the latter began to ride roughshod over veteran leaders of the party.
Nalini Kanta Mohanty, a close aide of the late leader, says: “Biju babu was a true democrat in thought and action. He was close to Nehru and Indira Gandhi, but he didn’t hesitate to rebel against the ‘dictatorship’ of the Congress high command when the need arose.”
Patnaik, who made his debut as an MLA from North Cuttack constituency in 1946, went on to become one of the most powerful chief ministers the state has ever had. In the intervening years, he advised Pandit Nehru on defence matters during the 1962 Chinese aggression and undertook a crucial trip to the US to discuss sensitive military issues.
In Washington, Patnaik told American newspapers why and how the Indian army was as competent as any other in the world. The Opposition back home charged him with revealing military secrets. A furore ensued in Parliament. But Pandit Nehru stood firmly behind Patnaik and asserted that his revelations had done no harm whatsoever to India's interests.
In the aftermath of the 1969 Congress split, he led his flock in revolt against Indira Gandhi when the latter denied him a Rajya Sabha ticket. The then Prime Minister suspected Patnaik of being hand in glove with the Syndicate leaders. On his part, he did nothing to disavow her of that notion for by that time he had had enough of Indira Gandhi's “autocratic” style of functioning. He needed a flashpoint.
He had the ears of Pandit Nehru and then his daughter, Indira Gandhi, but he did not think twice before walking out on the Congress when the latter began to ride roughshod over veteran leaders of the party.
Nalini Kanta Mohanty, a close aide of the late leader, says: “Biju babu was a true democrat in thought and action. He was close to Nehru and Indira Gandhi, but he didn’t hesitate to rebel against the ‘dictatorship’ of the Congress high command when the need arose.”
Patnaik, who made his debut as an MLA from North Cuttack constituency in 1946, went on to become one of the most powerful chief ministers the state has ever had. In the intervening years, he advised Pandit Nehru on defence matters during the 1962 Chinese aggression and undertook a crucial trip to the US to discuss sensitive military issues.
In Washington, Patnaik told American newspapers why and how the Indian army was as competent as any other in the world. The Opposition back home charged him with revealing military secrets. A furore ensued in Parliament. But Pandit Nehru stood firmly behind Patnaik and asserted that his revelations had done no harm whatsoever to India's interests.
In the aftermath of the 1969 Congress split, he led his flock in revolt against Indira Gandhi when the latter denied him a Rajya Sabha ticket. The then Prime Minister suspected Patnaik of being hand in glove with the Syndicate leaders. On his part, he did nothing to disavow her of that notion for by that time he had had enough of Indira Gandhi's “autocratic” style of functioning. He needed a flashpoint.
Source : IIPM Editorial, 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment