NAVEEN NIWAS IN Bhubaneswar was a sea of humanity in the evening when THE WEEK team reached there. Thousands had come from Puri to join the Biju Janata Dal, and were being admitted in groups to have a glimpse of Naveen Patnaik.
The chief minister had had a hectic day. After having addressed a few election meetings, he had returned to Bhubaneswar and then gone to the party office to release the manifesto, where he made a brief speech.
THE WEEK found him sitting with a copy of the manifesto at his famous dining table, around which he holds his political and official consultations. His face was sun-tanned, and voice a bit gruff after the strain of a mid-summer election campaign. He smiled when we reminded him that he had addressed THE WEEK's annual conference in 2017 at Bhubaneswar. Excerpts from the interview:
You have been winning elections and ruling Odisha for two decades. You are now seeking a fifth term. What would you attribute the success to?
All throughout, we have kept people at the forefront of our governance. That conveys it all. My only vested interest is the people of Odisha.
What will be your priority in the fifth term?
Development, progress and welfare of the people.
How do you see your party's prospects now?
I am hopeful of a handsome victory.
What has been the secret of your success? Is it the legacy of your illustrious father, your own charisma, or the good governance?
I would say it is a combination of all. The respect [that] people have for Biju babu... the love and affection our people [have for him]... and our good governance.
Looking back, how much do you owe to the legacy of your father?
Biju babu is a phenomenon. One cannot quantify.
You are known to be a reserved person. You are not fluent in Odia. How do you communicate with the masses?
People understand me and I understand them.
Give us an overview of the major policies and programmes on which you are seeking votes and another term this time.
We have programmes for all sections of society, and we always run the extra mile for women. Some of our programmes have been taken as national models, like Mamata (for pregnant women) and KALIA (for farmers).
KALIA has attracted much interest even outside Odisha. How did you chalk out such a programme? Where did the inspiration come from?
When I took office, Odisha was dependent on other states for its own food security. That really disturbed me. So I took agriculture as one of my topmost priorities. We invested heavily in irrigation and quality extension services to make our farmers aware of the latest production technologies.
By 2008-09, we became self sufficient in food grain production, and in the next two years we started contributing to the food security of the country. Today, Odisha is the third largest contributor to the food security of the country. We are the only state to have doubled agricultural incomes and we are one of the few states to have continuously received the Krishi Karman awards from the Central government. We are one of the pioneer states in having a separate agriculture budget.
So, that is it... we have always focused on farmers. The idea of KALIA came when we were thinking of having a direct intervention for the small and marginal farmers, landless persons and sharecroppers.
You have given a third of your party tickets to women. But most parties have been refusing tickets to women on the ground of winnability, though many are promising legislation. Would you consider that a big risk?
Not at all. Empowerment of women is the game changer for the development of our country and there is no risk involved in this.
Your policies have helped lift several thousands out of poverty. But, the same people who benefitted from your schemes would have higher aspirations like good jobs, better creature comforts, better schools and colleges and more industries. How confident are you of fulfilling such rising aspirations?
We are very confident and are transforming towards a new Odisha. We hosted the Asian Athletics Championships in 90 days. We successfully hosted the Hockey World Cup. 'Skilled in Odisha' [a skill imparting programme] is ranked number one in the country. We have been awarded by the United Nations for setting benchmarks in disaster management. We are a hot destination for investment.
Despite the progress, Odisha still gets some bad press. One incident of a poor tribal having to carry the body of his wife on his back was enough to negate the image of progress. Why do you think this happens to Odisha?
It was a very unfortunate incident and we have continuously tried to improve our services. We have come a long way. We still have some way to go. I do not believe in artificial brand building. Our work will determine our brand.
Do you think the people will seek a change, much as they like the incumbent government? How will you counter anti-incumbency?
I believe in honest hard work. I leave the rest for the people to decide.
The BJP is determined to repeat a Tripura in Odisha. They did fairly well in the panchayat elections. Their strategy for this election starts from booth management to a shock-and-awe campaign by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. Does it worry you?
Our government’s pro-people, pro-poor and pro-women programmes have always received the support of the people and that is the way we continue to do better in every election.
The BJP is seeking votes mainly in the name of Modi, national security and hindutva or anti-minorityism. You are not countering any of these. You are simply ignoring those issues or claims made by them.
Our agenda is development—and people of the state know how the BJP has let down the state on special category status, the Mahanadi issue and the Polavaram dam. Even when there are statutory time limits for coal royalty revision, it was not done. Also, Odisha is at the bottom in most Central subjects like railways, banking, highways and telecom. So our focus is the development of the people of Odisha.
Odisha is known to have the least communal tension, but the issue of national security could strike a chord with the people, especially the urban and middle-class voters.
Look, these are temporary issues... and they are fizzling out already.
How has Odisha remained communally peaceful all these years? Could it be because minorities constitute just about 4 or 5 per cent?
People of our state are generally peace loving. Coupled with that, our party has ensured that governance is completely secular.
The Congress is on a revival path, having won three state assemblies in the recent elections. They have also struck alliances in several states to ensure that anti-BJP votes are not split. How do you look at the prospects of the Congress in Odisha?
Yes, they are reviving in pockets... but that is not large enough to make any impact, whatsoever.
Your party has been faced with several desertions in recent months. And rivals, especially the BJP, are even giving them tickets. Some of those like Jay Panda had been known to have been quite close to you.
As long as the 4.5 crore people of Odisha are with our party, we are not concerned. In fact, many have left after being suspended from the party or denied tickets.
There is a charge raised, especially by those who deserted you, that the state is governed by bureaucrats, and that elected leaders are ignored. How would you answer that?
(Laughs) They have been making this charge from the year 2000, and whenever there is an election, opposition parties raise these. People are finally the best judges and they bless our party with a larger majority whenever we face elections.
The BJD is perceived as a one-man party. Do you have a second line of leadership? How would you answer the charge that it is not a democratic set-up?
Not at all. We have regular elections and we have a robust system involving many layers with leaders from panchayat level to state level.
The BJD has been equidistant from both the NDA and the UPA. If this election throws up a hung Lok Sabha, will you join either of them or opt for a third alternative with other regional parties?
I feel this time no national party will get a majority of its own. In that scenario, we will support whoever will be committed to fulfil the demands of Odisha. In fact, we have put this stand of ours as part of our manifesto.
You have been putting in a lot of work. How do you relax after a hard day?
Well, I watch television.
News channels or movies?
Both. I love watching films.
English, Hindi or Odia?
English films.
You were a writer before you joined politics. You had written three books. Will you be writing more?
I want to, but I don't know.