By Sunil Jena, Editor-in-Chief | The Politics Odia
When business meets politics, the stakes are always high. That is exactly what we are witnessing in Odisha today. Tara Ranjan Pattnaik, the powerful Chairman of Falcon Marine Exports, has fired a direct political and economic salvo – not at bureaucrats or ministers – but straight at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On August 27, 2025, the U.S. administration under Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports, in addition to a 25% tariff on India’s oil purchases from Russia. This has created a devastating double blow for India’s trade, particularly hitting Odisha’s marine food industry.
According to the Seafood Exporters Association of India, the decision has endangered the livelihoods of 15 lakh people connected to Odisha’s fisheries and seafood industry. In the last financial year (2024-25), Odisha exported seafood worth ₹4,700 crore, one-third of which went to the United States.
Falcon Marine, India’s largest seafood exporter, used to ship 120–130 containers of seafood every month. But after the tariff decision, August exports crashed to just 25 containers. Alternative markets in Europe or Asia are not equally profitable due to higher processing costs and lower purchasing power compared to the U.S.
The Association has raised repeated concerns with both the Centre and the State governments. But there has been no real solution, since the issue lies at the central diplomatic level. Instead of writing to fisheries or commerce ministers, Tara Ranjan Pattnaik has directly written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
And this is where the political storm brews. Pattnaik’s letter is not just an economic plea – it is a strategic move. By addressing Modi directly, he has highlighted the personal friendship between Narendra Modi and Donald Trump. His message is clear: If Modi cannot convince Trump to roll back the tariff, then Odisha’s 15 lakh fishermen and workers will not support the BJP in the next elections.
In one stroke, Pattnaik has managed two targets with one arrow – pressing for relief for his industry while simultaneously putting political pressure on the ruling party.
This confrontation is not just about tariffs or seafood exports. It is about the intersection of global diplomacy, domestic politics, and local livelihoods. And at the centre of this storm stands Tara Ranjan Pattnaik – Modi’s thorn in the flesh.
