With an eye clearly on a consecutive fourth term, the Orissa CM has altered his style of functioning even as he grooms new faces within the party, reports Dhrutikam Mohanty
In his third term as Orissa Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik
appears to be a changed man. Gone is the politician who once kept his own partymen at arm’s length and sported a cold cloak of aloofness. He is now consciously seeking to evolve into a popular leader – accessible and friendly.
Not long ago, when somebody sought an appointment with him on a Sunday, he said: “I am enjoying a holiday and you should too.” Today, he thinks nothing of convening official meetings on Sundays.
During his previous terms in office, Patnaik’s durbar at his residence, Naveen Niwas, would be held only on weekdays. It would begin at 9 am and end within an hour and a half. Nobody dared disturb him on Sundays. Now, both on weekends and weekdays, the meetings at his residence stretch until 1.30 pm.
According to Naveen Niwas insiders, the usually picky and reserved Chief Minister would rarely invite lawmakers to his residence for one-on-one meetings. That is common practice now. Only a few handpicked ministers had access to his house during his earlier terms. Patnaik’s third term has turned Naveen Niwas into an open house. Ministers and legislators troop in at all hours and the CM not only finds time for all, he also has breakfast and lunch with them.
Naveen goes out of his way to establish a personal rapport with the people he meets. Subrat Tarai, a first-time MLA, recently had a first-hand encounter with the new Naveen Patnaik. He called on the CM in his official chamber with a request – Tarai wanted to be recommended for membership of the governing body of a University from which he had completed his post-graduation. Patnaik was warmth personified – he invited the young legislator to his residence.
Even though the state Assembly was in session, Patnaik spent half an hour with Tarai. When the latter got up to leave, the CM gifted him a group photograph of BJD MLAs that was clicked at Naveen Niwas. “My perception about Naveen babu changed totally,” says Tarai. “I had heard that he is arrogant. I found a man who was full of warmth. As the leader of the party, Naveen babu likes to strike a personal rapport with his colleagues.”
Patnaik’s new style has taken many of his close associates by surprise. The CM recently hosted a breakfast bash at home – all the 102 MLAs of the Biju Janata Dal were invited. The party began with a group photo session. A variety of South Indian dishes was served. The BJD supremo personally supervised the breakfast and was seen moving around and interacting with the MLAs.
When he reached Pradeep Maharathy, the maverick lawmaker from Pipili who had triggered a controversy by refusing the CM’s offer to be the chief whip of the BJD legislative party, he took a part of the dosa on the MLA’s plate and gulped it with some chutney. Sources said Maharathy was left speechless. Patnaik had never been seen before in public sharing food from somebody else’s plate.
“Naveen babu is a very communicative and affectionate man. Whenever his busy schedule allows, he loves to interact with partymen. Almost at every encounter, he asks me whether I am writing or not,” says journalist-turned-politician Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak. “If I answer in the negative, he reacts by saying that when a CM Minister has time to write, why shouldn’t someone like me?”
Nayak is among the seven new faces of Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet. He has assumed the responsibilities of state minister for energy with independent charge. Ramesh Majhi, a 31-year-old tribal lawmaker from Nawrangpur, has been given the science and technology portfolio.
In his third term as Orissa Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik
appears to be a changed man. Gone is the politician who once kept his own partymen at arm’s length and sported a cold cloak of aloofness. He is now consciously seeking to evolve into a popular leader – accessible and friendly.Not long ago, when somebody sought an appointment with him on a Sunday, he said: “I am enjoying a holiday and you should too.” Today, he thinks nothing of convening official meetings on Sundays.
During his previous terms in office, Patnaik’s durbar at his residence, Naveen Niwas, would be held only on weekdays. It would begin at 9 am and end within an hour and a half. Nobody dared disturb him on Sundays. Now, both on weekends and weekdays, the meetings at his residence stretch until 1.30 pm.
According to Naveen Niwas insiders, the usually picky and reserved Chief Minister would rarely invite lawmakers to his residence for one-on-one meetings. That is common practice now. Only a few handpicked ministers had access to his house during his earlier terms. Patnaik’s third term has turned Naveen Niwas into an open house. Ministers and legislators troop in at all hours and the CM not only finds time for all, he also has breakfast and lunch with them.
Naveen goes out of his way to establish a personal rapport with the people he meets. Subrat Tarai, a first-time MLA, recently had a first-hand encounter with the new Naveen Patnaik. He called on the CM in his official chamber with a request – Tarai wanted to be recommended for membership of the governing body of a University from which he had completed his post-graduation. Patnaik was warmth personified – he invited the young legislator to his residence.
Even though the state Assembly was in session, Patnaik spent half an hour with Tarai. When the latter got up to leave, the CM gifted him a group photograph of BJD MLAs that was clicked at Naveen Niwas. “My perception about Naveen babu changed totally,” says Tarai. “I had heard that he is arrogant. I found a man who was full of warmth. As the leader of the party, Naveen babu likes to strike a personal rapport with his colleagues.”
Patnaik’s new style has taken many of his close associates by surprise. The CM recently hosted a breakfast bash at home – all the 102 MLAs of the Biju Janata Dal were invited. The party began with a group photo session. A variety of South Indian dishes was served. The BJD supremo personally supervised the breakfast and was seen moving around and interacting with the MLAs.
When he reached Pradeep Maharathy, the maverick lawmaker from Pipili who had triggered a controversy by refusing the CM’s offer to be the chief whip of the BJD legislative party, he took a part of the dosa on the MLA’s plate and gulped it with some chutney. Sources said Maharathy was left speechless. Patnaik had never been seen before in public sharing food from somebody else’s plate.
“Naveen babu is a very communicative and affectionate man. Whenever his busy schedule allows, he loves to interact with partymen. Almost at every encounter, he asks me whether I am writing or not,” says journalist-turned-politician Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak. “If I answer in the negative, he reacts by saying that when a CM Minister has time to write, why shouldn’t someone like me?”
Nayak is among the seven new faces of Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet. He has assumed the responsibilities of state minister for energy with independent charge. Ramesh Majhi, a 31-year-old tribal lawmaker from Nawrangpur, has been given the science and technology portfolio.
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