Bhubaneswar: Sambit Tripathy, a former IRS officer who served as the private secretary of the then Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from 2014 to 2019, quit his job and joined the BJP in November 2023. Interestingly, his decision to resign from the IRS came on the heels of VK Pandian, former IAS and private secretary of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, quitting his job to join the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
The former bureaucrat, who is active in voluntary works in Cuttack district through his NGO Livelihood Alternatives after retirement, says he joined politics to serve the people better. According to him, he joined the BJP as he was inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong leadership and pro-people ideology.
No doubt, he was the BJP’s ideal choice as the candidate for the Baramba Assembly constituency in Odisha’s Cuttack district – a stronghold of the BJD. Here he takes on veteran BJD leader Debiprasad Mishra, who won the seat six times in a row since 1995.
In a telephonic interview with Ommcom News Editor-in-Chief Jajati Karan, Sambit shares his visions and plans for Baramba if elected to the Odisha Assembly. He also talks about the BJP’s prospects in the state in this Assembly election.
Below are the excerpts from the interview.
Q: You were in the IRS and now in politics and Dharmendra Pradhan seems to be your mentor … so how difficult or easy is this transition?
A: After I took voluntary retirement from my job I did not join politics directly. I started a social organisation named Livelihood Alternatives. I am still working on various issues like livelihood and agrarian distress across Odisha through this organization. Transition to politics has been a gradual process for me. It is also very exciting.
Q: Given the fact that you have the support of a stalwart like Dharmendra Pradhan, has your journey in politics been a smooth ride or a difficult one?
A: To a great extent, Dharmendra Pradhan guides me and I have the advantage of his guidance. However, in politics, you confront several issues at the grassroots level and you need to make instant decisions or take a call on your own.
Politics is a lot about struggles and sometimes it is also about small achievements – incremental achievements, especially when you get the support, love, and affection of the people at the grassroots level.
Q: You are contesting against a veteran leader like Debiprasad Mishra who has won the Baramba Assembly seat six times. So how difficult is the contest this time?
A: Well, it is a challenge, but a challenge is also an opportunity. Unfortunately, Devi Mishra has not done anything for Baramba. People have reposed their faith in him six times since 1995 and elected him their MLA. He has also held different important portfolios. Unfortunately, he has not contributed anything to the people or the development of the place. There was a sugar mill here, which is closed now and there is no sign of reopening it.
Secondly, there is a severe water problem here. People do not have access to clean drinking water and farmers are not getting water to irrigate their fields. As a result, only one crop is grown here and there is large-scale migration of labourers to other states. The water scarcity here is so grave that there is resentment among the people and in some places the incumbent is not even being allowed to enter the villages.
This area also does not have adequate medical facilities. Kidney diseases are prevalent in this region and the situation is aggravated by the absence of proper medical facilities and clean drinking water.
Besides, education is in tatters and job opportunities do not exist here. People do not have even small facilities like playgrounds or stadiums. We have been reading about the plights of people in Kalahandi in the 1980s and today I consider Baramba as the modern-day Kalahandi. The plights of people in this region are yet to come to light owing to various issues but there is widespread resentment among the people here. I consider that this offers me an opportunity to work for the people and the region.
Q: Give me three important reasons why the people of Baramba will vote for you. What are the three important changes that you would like to implement if you are elected this time?
A: The first change I would like to bring is to provide 24/7 drinking water to everyone. The second change would be to create employment opportunities. If you look at the place you will see that it has the growth potential. The Mahanadi flows by it, the soil is fertile here and the people are also labourious. All we need to do is to connect them and provide the people with auxiliary services and market linkages. All these were there when the sugar mill was operating and the entire area was quite prosperous. The sugarcane farmers were happy and many people got direct employment. My priority is to revive the sugar mill and also bring in other agro-based industries.
I also want to focus on creating a conducive environment for the youth, both boys and girls, in terms of creating employment opportunities for them by providing them with education and vocational training so that they get enough employment opportunities.
It is also important to provide the people here with proper medical facilities, especially to treat their kidney ailments.
Q: Being an insider of the BJP and a confidant of Dharmendra Pradhan, how do you think the BJP will fare in this election in Odisha? A few months back, the BJP appeared to be in a comfortable position not only in Odisha but across the country. But now it seems things are becoming a little difficult for the party. Do you believe in this or do you think that the BJP will still perform well as your party leaders are claiming?
A: I don’t think things have become difficult for the BJP. I see an overwhelming support for honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi across the country and he is our brand in this election. As for Odisha, there is a growing anti-incumbency wave as people are unhappy with the present government and they want a change. They see the BJP as the alternative. The BJP has been able to articulate itself as the viable alternative vis-à-vis the ruling party in Odisha. I think the most important factor that will have an impact on the elections in Odisha is the absence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik from the mental narrative of the electorate here. Our leader Narendra Modi has said that the elections in Odisha this time are about preserving the pride of Odisha – Odia Asmita and Odia Swabhiman. This, I think, has touched the minds and hearts of the people in the state. I think this will be a game-changer in Odisha elections this time.
Q: What will be your take if I ask you about the numbers in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha this time?
A: I am only concentrating on my Assembly constituency and I don’t think it will be proper for me to talk about the election results in the entire state. But given the feedback I am receiving from across the state, I can say that people in Odisha want a change and it will not be surprising if the BJP gets a majority in the dual elections here. I think this is the reality here.
Q: What are your thoughts on your main opponent Debiprasad Mishra?
A: He had a great opportunity to bring about a great change in Baramba or transform the place. He may have good election machinery but, I think, because of his personal agenda or because he is embroiled in many controversies, including chit funds, he does not have the mindset to bring about a developmental change in the constituency that will help create long-term prosperity for the people.
This is where his sincerity is lacking. If you visit the Baramba Assembly constituency you can see the pathetic story of the place. This is very unfortunate. He has been in power for 30 years as an MLA and handled great portfolios. Had he wanted he could have transformed the place. If you look at neighbouring Hindol or Khandapada you will find visible changes, but there has been absolutely no visible change in Baramba.
He has ensured that the people here live in poverty and distress. It is a violation of all fundamental rights. Right to life includes access to clean drinking water but people with kidney problems here have no access to it. Keep in mind that thousands of crores have been spent on developing infrastructure, including drinking water and irrigation projects, but still, we have not been able to provide drinking water to all the households.
He lacks initiative, imagination, and sincerity as a politician. He has only looked after his interests completely surrendering the interests of the people to corrupt practices. It is absolute corruption here and people, including the old and disabled, are not getting the PDS ration or even a pension. It is a banana republic here.
