PINAKI IS NEW FAVOURITE

The buzz in Odisha is that after Pyarimohan Mohapatra has fallen out with Naveen Patnaik, Pinaki Misra has emerged as the Chief Minister’s favourite man Friday. Although a newcomer to BJD, the acidtongued lawyer has wasted no time in making his presence felt in the party. He is often seen in TV studios holding forth on national issues. As for Mohapatra, the man who knew all of Patnaik’s moves now asks Mr Patnaik who? This was his response in Parliament on August 14 when a journalist asked him for details of Patnaik’s forthcoming visit to Delhi. Mohapatra was suspended from BJD in June for attempting to stage a coup against Patnaik, so there’s no surprise.