Out of the total 147 assembly seats, 36 seats belong to western part of Odisha or Kosal region. The lion share of assembly seats of Odisha legislative assembly are from coastal and other parts. Till date Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo from Swatantra Party (8th March 1967 – 9th January 1971) and Hemananda Biswal from INC (7th December 1989 – 5th March 1990 and 6 Dec 99 – 5th March 2000) from western Odisha have become Chief Minister of Odisha.
Western Odisha or Kosal region is no doubt lagging in development. That’s why Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) and Kalahandi-Balangir-Koraput (KBK) region has been constituted. The backwardness and difference of culture and identity of this region has led to demand of separate state; Kosal.
Now, many of the young Kosal activists in social media are found to a bit incline towards the propagation of BJP. They attend meetings of Prime Minister Modi, Amit Shah and even cabinet minister Dharmendra Pradhan demanding separate Kosal state. But BJP has never shown any sign for Kosal. Whereas The Kosal activists are never found demanding separate state to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik or any cabinet minister of Odisha. The Kosal activists think that if BJP came to power they may get the Kosal. But why a BJP in majority will provide you the Kosal ? Never.
No doubt BJD is an Odisha based regional party. Its stronghold lies in coastal region than western part. BJD plays electoral cards appeasing both Odia and Kosali sentiments. Whereas BJP has done nothing for Kosali till date, if BJP wish it can enlist Kosali with Kendra Sahitya Academy and even include in 8th Schedule but BJP has not shown any sign. Only 2 sessions of parliament left, monsoon and winter and election is in 2019; it may dissolve at anytime. Whereas BJD is certainly going to do something, like establish the declared Haldhar Nag Kosali Research Centre or create an academy.
BJP is a bit good in Kosal region, trying greener pastures in coastal region. That’s why time to time they play cards like Jaye Rajguru etc evoking Odia heroic sentiment. All the 7 MLAs and 1 Lok Sabha MP of BJP are from Kosal region. Even in last Zilla Parishad election BJP did better in Kosal part than coastal part.
Now politically, Kosalis are in helpless situations. If they will vote to BJP and get maximum numbers in legislative assembly then it will be around 40 seats. This will never help Dharmendra Pradhan to become CM or BJP to gain Odisha. Kosal will not be materialized.
What if BJD voted to power again in the state and BJP voted to power in centre? The mission 120+ and wish of Dharmendra Pradhan will fail. Dharmendra Pradhan will never be interested to seat in Odisha assembly as the leader of opposition. Then BJP will be desperate to create Kosal like Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. And Dharmendra Pradhan may become the first CM of Kosal.
Saket Sreebhushan Sahu comments on culture & politics