Former BJD Rajya Sabha member, Baishnab Parida’s Odia jab at chief minister, Naveen Patnaik might have embarrassed the latter but it has also turned the spotlight on the faltering political career of the erstwhile communist. For Parida, who also had a stint with the Samajwadi Party leading its state unit, Rajya Sabha membership was the highpoint of his otherwise unremarkable political career. Failing to get a re-nomination to the Rajya Sabha, he is now struggling to keep himself afloat through Bhasa Surakhya Sammilani, an outfit that claims to work for the promotion of Odia language. “Out of sheer frustration at not being re-nominated to the Rajya Sabha Parida seems to be using his outfit to target the chief minister,” said a ruling BJD leader.
