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Mahajan's meeting with Dilip Ray raises eyebrows

M I Khan in Bhubaneswar

Is Union Minister for Information Technology Pramod Mahajan a very close friend of former Union minister Dilip Ray? It appears so, if Mahajan's decision to meet Ray at the cost of annoying his host, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is anything to go by.

Despite opposition by Patnaik loyalists, Mahajan met the senior Biju Janata Dal leader and former Union minister, who is now known as a friend-turned-foe of Patnaik, in Bhubaneswar. Mahajan may be the official guest of Patnaik but he did not miss the opportunity to meet his friend.

Ray is cut up with Patnaik following his unceremonious removal from the Union Cabinet on his instruction.

Mahajan met Ray twice during his visit to the state, on Saturday and Sunday morning, before leaving for Nagpur.

On Saturday night, accompanied by some state Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, Mahajan had gone to Ray's Mayfair Hotel after attending a dinner hosted by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. However, Ray made it clear that he would not talk to Mahajan in the presence of others.

Keeping this in view, two friends met on Sunday morning near Oberoi hotel where Mahajan stayed.

Political circles attach much significance to the meeting between the two leaders. Dilip Ray had played a major role in the formation of the BJD and forging an alliance with the BJP thanks to his closeness with Mahajan, a senior BJD leader said.

In Delhi, Mahajan and Ray are neighbours.

Sources said that Mahajan might have worked out a patch-up formula between Patnaik and Ray to safeguard the interest of his friend. "Mahajan is a good friend," said a BJD leader close to Dilip Ray.

Mahajan is the only senior BJP leader who has been regularly visiting the state for the last five years, but this is the first time that he took extra care to meet Ray. "To prove his true friendship," sources said.

On earlier occasions, when Ray was a Union minister, both used to attend public meetings and private parties together. "Not being in the good books of Patnaik at present, Ray was not invited to attend any function this time."

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