BJD - BJP Alliance Drama

The ongoing drama of alliance talk between BJP and BJD in Odisha may sound peculiar to some, but not too surprising to those who are familiar with the Odisha politics. The ongoing bonhomie and the camaraderie between these two parties is no secret, not anything new. This has quite apparent to the public for the last few year. It is akin to Democrats and Republicans making an arrangement in America - Democrats controlling the House and Republicans controlling the Senate without people having any say in it. 

Yeah, we the Peoplppe of Odisha, the general voters, are totally flabbergasted, though aren't entirely surprised, seeing it as part and parcel of realpolitik these days. The reality is politics makes strange bedfellows. No one is untouchable in the quest for power. Abraham Lincoln famously said that Democracy is "Of the people, By the people, For the people". In modern day democracy it is the leaders with cult following at top are the ones who taken decisions of electoral alliances, the wish of the people is damned. It is not the people who elect them, rather they elect themselves by fixing their seats. 

The second category of people are the foot soldiers of both political parties, a dejected lot further frustrated by the insolent behavior of their party leaders. Regardless of the BJD-BJP alliance bearing fruit or stillborn after the marriage being consummated, the fact that the marriage is being negotiated is not only utter disregard to the sentiments of the party workers, it's a direct slap on their face. The top basses of both parties have taken their party workers for a ride, after taking them for granted. 

The third category folks impacted are the ubiquitous Bureaucrats, a powerful column in a state where feudalism still rules the roost as the state is controlled by couple of families, big and small. The Babus are known as an opportunist tribe who don't belong to any party, but to the proverbial "CHHATA" (Umbrella) Party, with "BARSA JUADE, CHHATA SIADE" syndrome - "Move the Umbrella in the direction of rain" - simply meaning "A fairweather person". Tired of being shadowed, jealous, insecure and feeling alienated by one of their ex-colleagues running the show, the present lot wants BJP to bring some changes to the status quo. They are watching from side lines as fence seaters, ready to milk the milage in any eventuality.

In this fruid time, under these circumstances, Congress, the Grand Old Party in Odisha is expected to step in to fill the vacuum. But unfortunately the party is on its death bed, in its last throes. It is a rudderless party which has been in a steady decline for the last quarter of a century, having no future. If offered a ticket by BJD or BJP, especially the former, the Congress leaders will run wagging their tail and be a partner of the prospective BJD - BJP alliance. No one does politics of principles these days, hence don't want to bet on a dead horse called Congress Party. 

It yet forces me to repeat my often quipped colloquial Odia proverb,  

NARATTOMA DASA KAHE,

KOU SALA BHALA NUHE.   

Roughly transliterated,  

"Narottam Das says; 

Not a single SALA (scoundrel),

Is a good Fella". 

Another popular Odia DHAGA (Adage) now comes to my mind - 

"AA LO MUTURI SOIBA,

TU TA MUTURI, MU TA MUTURI,

HANSA KAHI PAI DHOIBA". 

"Oh my bed wetting companion,

Let's go to bed.

You are a bed wetter, so also I,

Why we wash the bed" !