BHUBANESHWAR: Naveen Patnaik is known for coming across as a man of few words. Despite being at the helm in Odisha for decades, lengthy speeches have never been his style. This year though, as he seeks a sixth straight term in office, he is covering the miles and making sure he gets his message across succinctly, keeping it conversational.
Despite concerns about his age and health, the 77-year-old bachelor looks undeterred.He is criss-crossing the state — Odisha is voting simultaneously to elect its state assembly and send MPs to Lok Sabha — to canvass for party candidates in the gruelling summer heat. Even as his trusted aide, V K Pandian, conducts far more extensive tours on his behalf, Naveen himself has been strategically selecting specific areas for campaigning, attending three to four rallies a day.
In 2019, Naveen would pose a question to the crowds after a short speech. “Aapana maane khusi ta (are you all happy)?” That phrase became a popular tagline for BJD. This year, Naveen has been posing a series of questions to the gathering after making brief remarks at campaign stops. “You will get free electricity from July. Are you happy?”; “Are you happy with Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY)?”; “Is Kalia scheme good?” And, after the chorus of replies from the people, “Is Naveen Patnaik good?”
“Vote for Jodi Sankha (twin conch; BJD’s election symbol)” is Naveen’s new slogan as he seeks votes for the 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Vidhan Sabha seats.
He also subtly criticises the opposition, specifically BJP, accusing its leaders of shedding crocodile tears over Odisha’s struggles while questioning the promised ‘achhe din’ narrative. Then there are the short videos of Naveen talking on various issues that his team has been releasing. To counter ‘Modi’s guarantee’, he has been highlighting ‘Naveen’s guarantee’ to promote his welfare promises ranging from free electricity to nearuniversal free health coverage under BSKY.
A significant feature of Naveen’s campaign is the prominent presence of Pandian on the dais. After Naveen’s “questions” to voters, Pandian takes over. If Naveen makes veiled attacks, Pandian amplifies them, providing details of the BJD govt’s schemes and sharpening the party’s criticism of BJP.
Poll analyst R K Satpathy said BJD poll managers are well aware of how the mere presence of Naveen is a significant draw for voters. A simple wave of Naveen’s hand, it is felt, can work magic as BJD banks on the love and trust he enjoys with the public. “No other face in BJD comes close to having the same appeal among the electors. Naveen is the face, heart and soul of BJD; everything revolves around him,” said Satpathy.
Another analyst, Jayant Mohapatra, observed that Naveen’s stance towards BJP is more aggressive this time compared with previous elections. “That may be his response to BJP leaders’ attacks on him. Had Naveen not responded, he would have been perceived as being weak. He certainly doesn’t want that,” Mohapatra said.
After a visible warmth in ties — till coalition talks failed between the two estranged partners who shared power in Odisha from 2000 to 2009 — BJP and BJD are going hammer and tongs at each other. If PM Narendra Modi said ‘Odia Asmita’, or pride, faces a threat under Naveen, Union home minister Amit Shah accused Naveen of pushing Odisha back by 50 years. Naveen, the Odisha CM since 2000, has responded by saying the BJP leaders remember the state only during elections.
This time, Naveen contested from two assembly seats, Hinjili and Kantabanji, both of which voted on May 20, the second of the four phases of polling in the state. While Hinjili is his usual seat, where he fought his first assembly poll battle, joining the fray from Kantabanji in western Odisha was a calculated move with a view to galvanising voters to back BJD in what is a BJP stronghold.
Despite concerns about his age and health, the 77-year-old bachelor looks undeterred.He is criss-crossing the state — Odisha is voting simultaneously to elect its state assembly and send MPs to Lok Sabha — to canvass for party candidates in the gruelling summer heat. Even as his trusted aide, V K Pandian, conducts far more extensive tours on his behalf, Naveen himself has been strategically selecting specific areas for campaigning, attending three to four rallies a day.
In 2019, Naveen would pose a question to the crowds after a short speech. “Aapana maane khusi ta (are you all happy)?” That phrase became a popular tagline for BJD. This year, Naveen has been posing a series of questions to the gathering after making brief remarks at campaign stops. “You will get free electricity from July. Are you happy?”; “Are you happy with Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY)?”; “Is Kalia scheme good?” And, after the chorus of replies from the people, “Is Naveen Patnaik good?”
“Vote for Jodi Sankha (twin conch; BJD’s election symbol)” is Naveen’s new slogan as he seeks votes for the 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Vidhan Sabha seats.
He also subtly criticises the opposition, specifically BJP, accusing its leaders of shedding crocodile tears over Odisha’s struggles while questioning the promised ‘achhe din’ narrative. Then there are the short videos of Naveen talking on various issues that his team has been releasing. To counter ‘Modi’s guarantee’, he has been highlighting ‘Naveen’s guarantee’ to promote his welfare promises ranging from free electricity to nearuniversal free health coverage under BSKY.
A significant feature of Naveen’s campaign is the prominent presence of Pandian on the dais. After Naveen’s “questions” to voters, Pandian takes over. If Naveen makes veiled attacks, Pandian amplifies them, providing details of the BJD govt’s schemes and sharpening the party’s criticism of BJP.
Poll analyst R K Satpathy said BJD poll managers are well aware of how the mere presence of Naveen is a significant draw for voters. A simple wave of Naveen’s hand, it is felt, can work magic as BJD banks on the love and trust he enjoys with the public. “No other face in BJD comes close to having the same appeal among the electors. Naveen is the face, heart and soul of BJD; everything revolves around him,” said Satpathy.
Another analyst, Jayant Mohapatra, observed that Naveen’s stance towards BJP is more aggressive this time compared with previous elections. “That may be his response to BJP leaders’ attacks on him. Had Naveen not responded, he would have been perceived as being weak. He certainly doesn’t want that,” Mohapatra said.
After a visible warmth in ties — till coalition talks failed between the two estranged partners who shared power in Odisha from 2000 to 2009 — BJP and BJD are going hammer and tongs at each other. If PM Narendra Modi said ‘Odia Asmita’, or pride, faces a threat under Naveen, Union home minister Amit Shah accused Naveen of pushing Odisha back by 50 years. Naveen, the Odisha CM since 2000, has responded by saying the BJP leaders remember the state only during elections.
This time, Naveen contested from two assembly seats, Hinjili and Kantabanji, both of which voted on May 20, the second of the four phases of polling in the state. While Hinjili is his usual seat, where he fought his first assembly poll battle, joining the fray from Kantabanji in western Odisha was a calculated move with a view to galvanising voters to back BJD in what is a BJP stronghold.