Is Odisha Chief Minister Skating On Thin Ice?

The general impression is that Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi is skating on thin ice these days. This impression is gaining currency because Majhi’s overall performance has not been stellar. Failing law and order situation, atrocities on women, rampant corruption and flight of industries to other states continues to grab headlines. Critics say Majhi’s leadership has been lacklustre with slow implementation of election promises and major reforms not taking shape, causing his popularity to drop. Political analysts say Majhi’s style of working as figurehead has to change giving way to being a decisive leader focussing on performance. This explains why political leaders and analysts are now urging the Odisha CM to assert his authority and provide results on the ground, so that his leadership remains intact. Otherwise, he could be overshadowed by competitors like the Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who has never hidden his ambition to rule Odisha one day. In fact political analysts say Pradhan is the de-facto master strategist holding the sceptre, while CM Majhi holds the temporary crown.