What proved Ghadeis nemesis

In Finance Minister Prafulla Ghadei, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik delivered the biggest shock. Even as the reshuffle was on expected lines aimed at purging the ministry of Pyari loyalists, the ouster of the powerful leader has come as a bolt from the blue.

Ghadei’s purported chief ministerial ambitions coupled with the recent run of events seems to have proved his nemesis. Though he was not a visible player in the May 29 coup bid, he is believed to be subtly involved in the machinations to topple Naveen.

Sources in the party said Ghadei had assured required financial muscle for the attempted coup. The Chief Minister got wind of Ghadei’s behind-the-scenes role after his return from the London trip. It was widely rumoured then that the Pyari camp was projecting Ghadei as the chief ministerial candidate in a bid to garner more support of party MLAs.

 The attack on Hussein Rabi Gandhi, allegedly orchestrated by his son Pritiranjan Ghadei, proved to be the last straw as the poet and party leader is known to be anti-Pyari. The Chief Minister has ordered an administrative probe by Revenue Divisional Commissioner.

Another factor which may have worked against Ghadei is his reported  support for an Odia daily which was the mouthpiece of the ruling BJD till Naveen fell out with Pyari. Reports of his business interests with industries coming up in Kalinganagar area was the other discomforting factor for the BJD chief. “Everything was hunky-dory till the sailing was smooth. The Chief Minister could not digest that his Finance Minister is nursing an ambition for the top position,” said a BJD insider.

Sacking of the second most powerful leader of the BJD by Naveen reveals the amount of distrust the Chief Minister had developed against Ghadei.

A trusted colleague of Naveen, Ghadei has been the Finance Minister since 2004. Though Ghadei fell seriously ill and went abroad for his treatment last year during the budget session, the Chief Minister did not change his portfolio despite speculation that Ghadei will be given a lighter job.