Jaya, Patnaik share dais

Reflecting the growing warmth between them, Jayalalithaa said Patnaik was like her "brother" and several welfare schemes implemented in both states showed that "our two governments think alike and we think alike".

Patnaik, whose two-day visit here assumed significance in the backdrop of the forthcoming Presidential election and opposition by non-Congress ruled states to the Centre's proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre, recalled his late father Biju Patnaik describing Jayalalithaa as an "excellent administrator".

He said he also endorsed the views of his late father on Jayalalithaa, who during her tenure brought several "revolutionary" steps like distribution of laptops to students, mangal sutra to girls and various pro-poor measures.

"You have set a very high standard for different states in the country to follow," Patnaik told Jayalalithaa. MORE