Suspended BJD Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra was never the second power centre in his party. He was the third power centre in the party set-up, if top sources in the ruling BJD are to be believed.
The second power centre, existence of which Mr Mohapatra himself hinted about in a recent popular television show, is just beginning to assert itself after lying low for nearly 12 years.
And surprisingly, all the ministers and MLAs are literally jostling to rally round the leader of the second power centre to get his favour. Ministerial aspirants and existence ministers are also seen cajoling the leader for obtaining political prominence.
Pyarimohan, while describing himself as Nirbodh Dhenkanalia (a popular term which implies “foolish”) has admitted that the leader of the second power centre, who belongs to media background — played a crucial role in the ouster of the key founders of the BJD, including Bijoy Mohapatra, to bring the party under his control.
Even though the RS member mentioned the name of the second power centre in the show, the latter is yet to deny the charge.
The resurgence of the second power centre has come as rude shock to some of the senior leaders who worked with late Biju Patnaik, father of the BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik. They are now sulking in silence, party sources said.
The senior leaders, after long years of alleged humiliations in the hands of Pyarimohan, had dreamt of graceful presence in the party in the aftermath of his s exit from the party.