By Sunil Jena, Editor-in-Chief | The Politics Odia
The latest India Today–C Voter survey has shaken Odisha’s political ground. For the first time, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi has been ranked only 8th among India’s Top 10 CMs, while his predecessor Naveen Patnaik had consistently held the No.1 position in earlier surveys.
This clearly shows that 14 months of the Majhi government have not impressed the people of Odisha. Public dissatisfaction is visible across sectors — from women’s safety to farmers’ issues, education, and healthcare. The double-engine government has failed to deliver on promises, and policies have turned people-unfriendly.
Political observers say one key reason behind this setback is that Mohan Majhi has distanced himself from Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Majhi reportedly considers Pradhan a political rival, fearing that Dharmendra might eventually become CM. This rivalry has prevented Majhi from seeking Pradhan’s guidance despite the latter’s vast experience.
It is worth remembering that Dharmendra Pradhan has served 11 years as a Union Minister across crucial departments, gaining deep administrative and political knowledge. Had Majhi taken his advice earlier, Odisha might have seen smoother governance and better policy implementation.
Interestingly, after 14 months, Mohan Majhi and Dharmendra Pradhan recently came together for the first time to discuss Odisha’s development. Suppose this cooperation continues and Mohan Majhi governs under Pradhan’s mentorship. In that case, there is a real possibility that Mohan Majhi could break Naveen Patnaik’s record and rise to become India’s No.1 CM in future surveys.
The big question is — will Majhi overcome his insecurities and embrace Dharmendra’s experience, or will Odisha’s governance continue to suffer?
