Naveen first to occupy Odisha CM's chair four times in a row

Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik, today scripted history by becoming Odisha Chief Minister for the fourth time in a row.

Patnaik, who broke the record of his legendary father Biju Patnaik, also crossed milestones set by other state leaders like Dr Harekrushna Mahatab and J B Patnaik.

Naveen Patnaik was continuing as Chief Minister uninterruptedly since May 5, 2000. Other than Patnaik, Dr Mahatab and J B Patnaik ruled the state three times each. Biswanath Das, Maharaj Krushna Chandra Gajapati Narayan Dev, Nabakrushna Choudhary, Biju Patnaik, Nandini Satapathy and Hemananda Biswal were Chief Minister twice each. Maharaja Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo, Biren Mitra, Sadashiv Tripathy, Binayak Acharya, Nilamani Routray and Giridhar Gomango had the opportunity to become Chief Minister once each. Since 1937 at least 15 leaders took oath on 27 occasions to lead Odisha.

While Krushna Chandra Gajapati and Biswnath Das took charge as Prime Ministers from 1937 to 1944, 13 others took oath as Chief Ministers. With interruption Congress veteran J B Patnaik, currently Governor of Assam, ruled the state three times for a little over 12 years.

He completed only one year in his first term in 1980 and was also disturbed by the party high command in two other spells in 1985 and 1995. JB's mentor Dr Mahatab in three different spells ruled Odisha for a little more than eight years. But he failed to complete any term. Nabakrushna Choudhry, an active co-worker of Mahatma Gandhi and a crusader against corruption was chief minister twice between 1950-56. Similar was the story of Biswanath Das who ruled the state twice for three and half years. Parala Maharaja also led the state for less than three years in two terms.

Biju Pattnaik first became Chief Minister in 1961 for less than two and half years. He had to struggle hard for more than 26 years to get back to power in Odisha in 1990. Biju Pattnaik completed a five-year term as Chief Minister during his second tenure. Balangir royal family member R N Singh Deo had to demit the office of chief minister before completing four years.

A tough politician Nandini Satapathy got two chances to serve as Chief Minister for three and half years. Prominent non-Congress leader Nilamani Routray however, failed to complete four years. Sadashiv Tripathy was chief minister for twenty five months, while Biren Mitra could not complete one and a half years.

Binayak Acharya became Chief Minister for four months while Hemananda Biswal was Chief Minister as a stop gap arrangement. His tenure was for three months. Giridhar Gomango also could not complete even one year as chief minister.