First Anniversary of opening of BJD office at Rayagada commensurate with a huge rally
Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta
Konda Babu proacts with the genuine demand of party workers and BJD supporters
Rayagada, October 17: Till year 2000, Congress almost ruled Rayagada. But the charisma of BJD under the charismatic leader Naveen Pattanaik in 2000 and after that BJD has not looked back. Though BJD had a strong presence in Rayagada district since year 2000 as far as Rayagada, Gunupur & Bissam Cuttack constituencies are concerned. It has also shown its strength in Municipality and NAC elections. BJD’s position in Zilla Parishad elections has also shown the way.
In spite of a strong hold in the entire district, BJD did not have a party office in the district headquarters. Though the party workers often faced sheer difficulties in coming together to strategise their plans and programmes proposed by party President and CM Naveen Pattanaik, nobody could express the desire explicitly of opening a party office just because BJD chief of the district was very autocratic with hegemony. At this crucial juncture, a grass root BJD worker named Yalla Konda Babu emerges as a pro-people leader and listens to the grievances of Biju & Naveen lovers, breaks away from a hegemonic district level chief of BJD and opens a BJD party office for strengthening party activities in the district.
Konda babu, once the right hand of the then district BJD chief N Bhaskar Rao, had lots of differences as far as leadership and other issues are concerned. “I still do not hold any party position. Nevertheless, I am a sincere worker at ground zero. I want to dismantle the monopoly of any kind of leadership in the district. No power and position will deter my commitment to propagate the programmes & principles of my leader Naveen Pattanaik in nook & corner of the district”, said Konda Babu.
As the saying goes: Power and position follow leadership qualities. He was able to get elected as truck union President amid lots of manipulations and backbiting by his own earlier political colleagues and guru. Irregularities amounting crores of money was exposed by him and the people responsible for it are in the process of taken to task. He gave a tough fight to restore the rights over the office buildings of the Truck Association and was successful in his endeavour.
Apart from this, he is involved in scores of social initiatives like facilitating inauguration of a destitute home for girls, organising “Pongal”- a local cultural extravaganza in a grand manner where more than 10000 people assembled and enjoyed the fete, helping out celebration of Maha Bishuba Sankranti in GCD High School ground where more than 25000 people assembled, supporting needy students and couples for solemnising their marriages, Persons with Disabilities(PwDs), patients in the hospitals, etc. You name a social function like Ganesh Puja, Durga Puja, etc – he is there as a leader as well as a volunteer. His good Samaritan activities are a discussion in the town.
To commemorate the first anniversary of BJD Dist level party office, he led a rally of more than 10000 Biju-Naveen-BJD supporters from near the Biju Patnaik’s statue near the bus stand, paid floral tributes to the legend. The foot march went round the town and culminated at the party office. The rally was joined by Sri Makaranda Muduli, MLA, Rayagada, Sr Advocate & Ex-Councillor Sri Braja Sundar Nayak, Sr BJD leader & Ex-Zilla Parishad Member Sri P Gouri Shankar, renowned tribal leader Sri Chakra Bidika, Govt Advocate Sri Biraja Patra and many other leaders. After the rally, the core team sat and strategised the future programmes in the district. A befitting cleavage from N Bhaskar Rao has led to a powerful faction being led by Koda Babu is certainly going to influence the electorate, which has huge followings of Konda Babu. This has been reflected in show of strength during the recent rally and congregation.
