Summary:
BY DN Singh with Satish Samant
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It was a strainful mix of several issues daring the ruling apparatus and in many ways, the Naveen Patnaik regime made its way through barring certain painful transitions due to the Covid as it did have an impact elsewhere in the country.
Living up to his reputation, Naveen Patnaik regime, with the roll-over loads of worries, did tide over the crisis of the virus with appropriate moves and regained his credit of being a front-liner in dealing with the crisis.
Next To None In Odisha
When concerns over the pandemic had its priorities, understandably every wing of the administration rode over political issues to ensure a climate of wellbeing for the people.
However, all through the battle against the virus, Odisha has remained in the lead as regards gearing up against it through steps those were pioneering.
Suffered In Pace A Bit
Politics, obviously, took the back-seat as the challenges from other aspects remained to be at the centr e-stage and yet proved itself better than many.
It was a puzzling mix of fear and other contentious issues like incidents of crime and climatic threats trying to be as priorities.
Certain incidents like the one in Paralakhmudi, Kalahandi etc were made to be daunting for the political administrators.
To which Patnaik responded with caution and patience.
However, such embers always keep smoldering and the opposition tries hard to bank on it.
Yet the chief minister has not stopped at that and through some break-the-new-ground initiative, has sharpened the edge of the laws aimed at protecting the safety of women in Odisha.
With a slogan like ‘Maa Ku Samman’ the chief minister has initiated the basic thrust and that is making them self-reliant.
Simultaneously, politics appeared riveting for a while when the issue over the corruption by a forest officer Abhay Pathak and his son Akash Pathak propped up from the hibernation of filth in which a former minister of the BJD and a sitting MLA Pradeep Panigarhi was found embroiled in the rot.
Remained Obliged To People
The chief minister, adhering to an overriding obligation to ensure that his government’s image is unwaveringly protected.
He expelled the legislator Panigrahi from the party and now, along with the Pathak`s, he now cools his heels in the jail.
Popularity Intact
The year witnessed three by-polls in the year when Covid was worrisome with its menace.
But the BJD won all three and added another feather by wresting the Balasore seat from the BJP.