All fights must end one day: BJD Patkura candidate Arabinda Mahapatra
The candidature of Arabinda Mohapatra, son of former minister Bijoy Mohapatra, from Patkura assembly constituency on BJD ticket was not a surprise.
About six months before the announcement of his candidature, ground work was done to induct him into the BJD. His father, a well-known critic of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who had unsuccessfully fought the BJD for more than two decades, had also come.
Arabinda talked about all these issues and more with Bijay Chaki in an interview.
Part:
Your father was a harsh critic of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and BJD. The bitterness between the Chief Minister and Bijoy Mohapatra is well known. Now you are contesting elections on BJD ticket. How are you dealing with this kind of change?
Every fight must end one day. This cannot continue indefinitely. The Chief Minister and my father have come together for the welfare of the people of Patkura. My father was fighting for a cause, but that has changed. The area needs development. And, instead of fighting against it, the area can be developed in a better way only by staying within BJD.
How did the process of you joining BJD begin? Did you know about it already?
I had not decided to enter politics. I was working in America for the last seven years. But father asked me to come back and work for the people here. A meeting of supporters was held in the area. The offer had come from BJD. People wanted me to join too. My father and the Chief Minister were supportive. I think joining BJD was the right decision.
Your father had campaigned against BJD in the constituency for the last two decades. He had contested elections against BJD candidates thrice. Isn’t change hard?
Till now people have not faced any problem. BJD people have also accepted me. There is no difficulty.
When you met the Chief Minister for the first time at Naveen Niwas, how did he talk to you?
After joining BJD, the Chief Minister called me to Naveen Niwas. Mostly, he wanted to know about my life in America. What was I doing there, my job and other interests. He talked about the places worth seeing in America. He sent his greetings to my father. I had also taken blessings from my father.
What is your agenda for the constituency? how do you want to proceed?
A major problem of the area is shortage of drinking water. Then, I will complete an irrigation project started by my father when he was a minister. Unemployment is a big challenge in the assembly constituency. But, the focus will be on drinking water. This is a problem that has persisted for a long time.
Are you confident of your victory?
I have the blessings of the Chief Minister and my father. Both the powers have come together for the betterment of the people of Patkura. I will definitely win from the constituency.
