Arpita Bisoi

Editor, Indian Whispers

From ‘Sir’ to ‘Bhai’ is certainly a tectonic shift in Odisha’s political culture. When someone from the stadium gallery cooed “Mohan Bhai”, and the chief minister turned back to wave him, the beauty of democracy displayed in all its grandeur.

In the recent past, the State stoically witnessed ‘Sir’, a British legacy, took over ‘Babu’, establishing a master-servant ecosystem in the politico-governance dispensation. The mockery of democracy became blatant as people and their representatives were made helpless creatures. As the master refused to step down from the pedestal, the people got disconnected.

In a sudden change of events, however, the optics appear to be funny. The chief minister getting amused to be addressed as ‘Bhai’, enquiring publicly whether food has been readied for the waiting common people or not, setting hair with comb in public meetings, taking food sitting on the floor in the house of poor people may strike the public as comic. The visual that the chief minister is running on the railway platform so that the train would leave the station on time may appear to be absurd.

Social media may lampoon the chief minister for these antics. But by doing these little capers he, subtly, gets himself and his government connected.

Mohan Charan Majhi, the 14th man and third tribal leader to hold the high post of chief minister in Odisha is, in fact, fast changing the political culture in the State. He is restoring the power of the ministers, the elected representative and the people, which was stolen from them for long.

“ I’m simple, but not feeble”, he says.

He has shown the bureaucrats their place in the governance system.

There is a raging debate on the achievements and failures of Mohan Majhi government’s one year in power.

The government has launched a massive publicity blitz to tom-tom the major accomplishments of the Mohan Majhi Sarkar. On the hand, the opposition, however, is picking holes in it.

Interestingly, the Khan Market Gang(sic), seems to be not happy with the Mohan Majhi government. According to it, nothing is happening in the State.

Critics see the glass is half empty blissfully ignoring the 7.2% growth rate in an election year and garnering of a staggering Rs 17 lakh investment intend, a record, in few months of coming to power.

One year for a government is too little a time to prove itself.

Majhi, unlike many former chief ministers, has inherited a rich legacy: a robust economy with all the indicators of good fiscal health within the prescribed parameters, and an efficient delivery system. His immediate predecessor continues to be a popular leader with garnering more votes at the hustings.

Performing under the shadow of a government that ruled the State continuously for a record twenty-four years is difficult. Amidst comparison between two un-equals, that the Mohan Majhi government remained visible during the year that passed is itself a big achievement.

Majhi government’s report card is, however, not less impressive.

Not wasting time in political witch-haunting, Majhi directly stepped into the business and facilitated the State’s march toward development. What materially the Mohan Majhi government has achieved in one year is not much of important. What is historic is the intangible achievements it accomplished during the one year.

The people’s trust in the government has been restored. The power position of the political executives and the bureaucracy, which was blurred over the years, has been redefined.Moreover, Majhi made himself and his government accountable and answerable to the people. While giving a finishing touch to his government’s one year completion, he hold a press conference, first time by a chief minister in the last 25 years, presenting his government for public scrutiny.

Chief minister Mohan Majhi has completed one year in the office.

But, the jury is still out.

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