Naveen Patnaik, as he heads for a third term as chief minister, revels in being unpredictable, possibly even opportunistic
Dillip Satapathy / New Delhi Mar 13, 2009, 00:05 IST
Some time in 2001, Orissa Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Naveen Patnaik and Union Steel Minister Dilip Ray — the latter nominated to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet by Patnaik —– took the same morning flight to Delhi from Bhubaneswar. Patnaik chatted with Ray pleasantly, asking his lieutenant his plans about his ministry and suggestions for the party.
Ray got off the plane and found he had been sacked as steel minister, a decision that Patnaik must have taken before he left Bhubaneswar. Patnaik and he had breakfast together but by lunch, Ray was no longer a minister.
This is the measure of ruthlessness that Naveen Patnaik has brought to Orissa politics.
For the common man, it is a refreshing change to be the master, for once, instead of the perpetual victim. In his nine years as chief minister, Naveen Patnaik has dropped 10 ministers. If there is even the smallest allegation of corruption or misdemeanour against a minister, he is dropped immediately, considered unworthy of holding public office. No wonder, this has earned him a lot of applause and has contributed to his image as a clean and firm administrator.
In 2003, when the BJD and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) went for a “friendly” fight in the municipal elections in Orissa, the BJP did so well in Cuttack that it managed to appoint its own Mayor. It got a sizeable section of the seats in Bhubaneswar too.
In 2008, however, it was a fierce battle for supremacy in the elections to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack municipal corporations which saw the BJD sweeping the elections, with the BJP getting just a handful of seats — presumably the voters’ way of letting their leaders know that they appreciated the accountability of politicians introduced by the BJD. When the higher education minister in his government, Samir Dey (BJP), said that it was Patnaik’s ill-gotten gains that had won the election, and that it was not the BJP that had lost, Dey was forced to resign the next day.
The recent parting of ways between the BJD and BJP is part of the same pattern. Every time BJP leaders from Orissa came to Delhi to complain against the peremptoriness of Naveen Patnaik, party leader in Delhi, LK Advani, dismissed their complaints out of hand. He did so again about a week ago when leaders said Patnaik was not honouring the coalition dharma in seat allocation. Advani called on Patnaik when the latter’s mother died recently and mentioned to him that if there was a problem they could talk. “No problem,” assured Patnaik and added that though he was not negotiating himself, he was sure the small negotiation gliches would be sorted out.
They were. And how!
Patnaik did not attend the rally in Tumkur held to mark the official formation of the Third Front. Observers say this could be his way of keeping all options open — as always. When communal violence erupted in Kandhamal following the killing of Swami Laxmanananda, Patnaik shrugged off all blame, passing it on to the BJP’s lack of control over the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). But soon Orissa will run out of people to pin the blame on.
Naveen Patnaik has, in the last 12 years since he first joined politics, travelled a long way. The man who used to count Jackie Onassis, Mick Jagger and other jetsetters as his friends hasn’t gone abroad in at least five years. He used to be interested in gentlemen’s pursuits: Writing, drawing. A Second Paradise: Indian Country Life; A Desert Kingdom: The People of Bikaner; and Garden Life: An Introduction to the Healing Plants of India are all books he has written. No longer. Now, Naveen Patnaik, as he heads for a third term as chief minister, revels in being unpredictable, possibly even opportunistic.
MADHUBAN,
WARD NO:-9
PO:-BARIPADA
DIST:-MAYURBHANJ
PIN:-757001
I HAVE SENT THREE APPLICATION FOR MEMBER OF STATE TRANSPORT AUTHRETY,ODISHA,CUTTACK.
I CAME TO KNOW MY FAX APPLICATION DATED 07.09.2010 HAS BEEN RECEVED BY YOU. EACH MUNICIPALITY ELECTION OUR PARTY CANDIDATE ARE WINNING BY MY HARD LABOUR.
I HAVE BEEN WORKING AS A WOKER FROM HON'BLE BISUPATTANAIK PERIOD TO TILL DATE
DUE TO MORE EXPRIENCE IN TRANSPORT MATTERS I AM INTERSTING TO GET STA MEMBER POST.
HENCE ,I WOULD REQEST YOU TO APPOINT ME AS A MEMBER OF STATE TRANSPORT AUTHORITY ODISHA ,CUTTACK AT YOUR END FOR WHICH I SHALL BE EVER GRATEFUL TO YOU
WITH BEST REGARDS
Mr Naveen patnaik.who is known by his own created status in whole world, not getting form his father. may be his father made many things for odisa, but now a days Mr Naveen is the star.He is the man can do many good things for odisa. please help him to create new and beautiful odisa.now students are know who is corrupted and who is not. that's why clean and clear person Naveen patnaik very much known person between all students.so i call to all odisa wasi to help him for polaverem prkalp.otherwise mostly suffer for future on the dession of congress polaverem prakalpam.congress basically known for corrupted party. in whole India. may be in future congress will sell our India also. so please people wake up.. and see the truth.
SiR, U change all the corrupted staffs of OPSC starting from the clerck level. What they are doing u cant just imagine.
Posted by: Suchismita
March 22 , 2010, 00:03 IST
Sir,
I beg apology for my previous view. Actually what I wrote was on the basis of the things that I heard from the people but the people can say anything they like. So that is not the authentic source to believe or to view on any point. Now I am sure that what I viewed at that time is completely baseless. I am really sorry for my childlike behaviour, I should not have said any thingh on any matter when I have not experienced.
Mr.Naveen Patnaik is the great honour of orissa and the real son of our lovely orissa. I am smaran mohanty the fan of Mr. Naveen Patnaik.always follows the managing technique of Mr. Patnaik.....
I whole-heartedly support Mr. Naveen Patnaik's proposal to rename Orissa as Odisha.
May I submit my proposal to him for a phonetic transliteration of the Oriya language in Roman script without any diacritical marks?
I may send it by Email. I shall be obliged if my prayer is granted.
With regards,
J.C.Debnath
i read in +2sc 2nd year in s.v.m collage.i take bio in my 4th opt.i want to change it IT.nobody help me.can you help me.
Posted by: Rajeev_Rath
December 23 , 2009, 12:43 IST
Hi Manas,
I am working as a IT Analyst in Bangalore.Do not worry for that.
There is no difference in +2 time which course you have choosen.
it is important in Engineering time.
If you have any query,can mail me.
Regards,
Rajeev
Today there is more two wheelers, TVs, Mobile phones than toilets, homes, children going to school- Where are we heading? Pvt. Engg.colleges and other pvt.colleges do not pay decent salaries to the teachers.Even in Bhubaneswar also. There is no regulations to control such manace.It is a pity that the corrupt officials are caught no doubt-but there is no punishment? Every such person is acquited from court for want of evidence. Should we aspect from Mr.Naveen Patnaik to do some thing on this account. Fact remains- BJP and Congress are worst.
No Doubt Nabin Pattaniak was a person who is free from curruption but he always take the help of chief adviser Mr. prayi Mohan Mohapatra in case of party issues rather than discussing all party members.I think it was not right.
Naveen Ji,
Mr Paryee Mohan Mahaptra shouldnot come infront of media,because orissa people they donot want him ,nodout he is an honest man and very good planner ,tell him to keep distance from media.
what the hell!!!! i was in bhubaneswar for the last 10 years and i have seen it change from a red soil city to a green city with wider roads. Its much cleaner than other cities and all these is due to the Mr. Naveen patnaik.And talking about corruption, i would like to see more of these corrupt policemen and politicians not only in jail but out of the state. Rather i would say that if voted to power again he would surely make it more like newyork as he has done before...those who don't agree with this then i would say you are losers because you want the same corrupt officials to rule over you....every minister in india is connected to corruption in one way or other but their has been no such instance with Mr. Naveen Patnaik...hail orissa...
Posted by: Prabhat
May 12 , 2009, 14:22 IST
Mr.Jyoti, Orissa does not confine to Bhubaneswar only. It has many more cities and towns. Most of the population in Orissa live in villages. Have you ever seen the pathetic conditons of civil amenities in those places. It is good to be honest, but being the CM one need to take care of the entire State not of a particular place. Whats say!
ABOUT JHINO HIKOKA
SIR PLEASE DON'T SELECT JHINO HIKOKA, WHO IS A CORRUPTED PERSON WITH DIVORCED 2 OR 3 LADIES. HIS REPUTAION IS NOT GOOD & NOT EXPERIENCE IN POLITICAL ACTIVITIES. SO PLEASE CUT HIS NAME FOR BJP CANDIDATE FOR LAXMIPUR.
SIR,
WE LOST THE BYE-ELECTION DUE TO BAD CANDIDATE SELECTION. SO PLEASE SELECT GOOD & PROPER POPULAR CANDIDATE FOR M.L.A. FOR THIS PARADA KULESIKA IS GOOD CANDIDATE I.E HE MADE LOT OF UNITY FOR THIS PARTY. ALSO HE WAS ELECTED AS SARAPANCH. HE IS ALSO BLOCK PRESIDENT OF BJD . SO PLEASE SELECT PARADA KULESIKA FOR WHICH WE SHALL REMAIN GREATEFUL TO YOU ALSO WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT WITH CONGRESS & BJP. SO PLEASE DON'T TAKE ANY WRONG DECISION.
YOURS WELLWISHERS
SIR,
PLEASE SELECT PARADA KULESIKA , BJD CANDIDATE FOR LAXMIPUR CONSTITUENCY . HE HAS GOOD REPUTATION WITH POPULARITY. JHINO HIKOKA IS NOT A PROPER CANDIDATE FOR BJD. IF JHINO HIKOKA WILL SELECT THEN DEFINITE BJD WILL DEFEAT. IF PARADA WILL SELECT THEN DEFINITELY BJD WILL WIN.
Content Guide
Some time in 2001, Orissa Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Naveen Patnaik and Union Steel Minister Dilip Ray — the latter nominated to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet by Patnaik —– took the same morning flight to Delhi from Bhubaneswar. Patnaik chatted with Ray pleasantly, asking his lieutenant his plans about his ministry and suggestions for the party.
