Naveen completes 25 years in politics, calls it nostalgic

BHUBANESWAR: When Naveen Patnaik was entrusted the task of stepping into the shoes of Biju Patnaik, few expected the Doon School educated, soft-spoken man who counted Mick Jagger and Jacqueline Kennedy among his friends, would last this long.
But not only did he stay the course, he has managed to carry forward his father’s legacy and build his own in more than two decades that he has been serving the public. On Wednesday, Naveen completed 25 years in politics, another milestone that he has raked up for himself ever since he won the bypoll in Aska Lok Sabha seat on a Janata Dal ticket on June 1, 1997, necessitated by the death of his father.
“It has been a nostalgic journey in public life. 25 years back on this day, I was elected as an MP from my state. Gratitude to my 4.5 Cr family for their enduring love & unwavering support,” Naveen tweeted.
Despite being a novice in politics, Naveen founded his own party on December 26, 1997, based on the ideology of his father, and named it Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Since 2000, the party has been undefeated in polls, first in alliance with the BJP, and alone since 2009. In between, he has been a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the Centre. But his legacy would be truly measured as chief minister of Odisha, lifting the state from abject poverty to one of the preferred investment destinations in the country.
“His successive victories in elections is down to his simplicity, humility and clean image,” said a a bureaucrat who has experience of working with Naveen for many years. His populist schemes combined with economic growth have endeared him to the people, the official added.