Cashing in on Youth festival

Leaders of the ruling Biju Janata Dal are now a happy lot.Till recently they were unhappy as criticism was growing against their government in the wake of the unearthing of the multi-crore mining scam and incidents of farmer suicides. But the 15th National Youth Festival 2010 has come as a blessing for them.The BJD leaders are elated that the media hype about the youth festival had made lakhs of people take part in the mega event in a big way, thereby overshadowing the criticism against Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik over the mining scam and farmer suicides.According to sources, it was a well-calculated plan by top leaders of the BJD to ensure success of the youth festival with a view to improving the sagging image of the Chief Minister.And they achieved their goal with people from all parts of the State participating in the festival to cheer delegates from different parts of the country.