Naveen Patnaik Biography

14th Chief Minister of Odisha

Naveen Patnaik (Odia: ; born 16 October 1946) is an Indian statesman, politician and writer serving as the current and 15th Chief Minister of Odisha representing the Hinjili *embly cons*uency since 2000. He is the longest-serving chief minister of Odisha and as of 2024, the 2nd longest-serving chief minister of any Indian state, holding the post for over two decades, and only the second Indian chief Minister after Pawan Chamling to win five consecutive terms as Chief Minister of an Indian state. He is the first president of the Biju Janata Dal since 1997.He served as the Union Minister of Steel and Mines from 1998 to 2000 and a member of the Lok Sabha from Aska from 1997 to 2000.

Biography

Patnaik was born on 16 October 1946 in Cuttack to Biju Patnaik, former Chief Minister of Odisha, and his wife, Gyan Devi . He was educated at the Welham Boys' School in Dehradun, and later The Doon School. At Doon, he was a cl*mate of Sanjay Gandhi and three years junior to Rajiv Gandhi, who later became prime minister. After school, he went to the Kirori Mal College of Delhi University, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Patnaik is a writer and had for the most part of his youth been away from both politics and Odisha, but after his father Biju Patnaik's demise, he entered politics in 1997 and the same year founded the Biju Janata Dal, named after Biju Patnaik, which won the state election with the BJP as its alliance and formed the government in which Patnaik became Chief Minister. His mild mannerism, "Stand against corruption" and "Pro-poor policies" have resulted in the development of a huge support base in Odisha, which has voted him to power in the last five consecutive terms. Like his father, he has managed to control the bureaucracy and transformed it into a machine for the development of the state. His spartan personal lifestyle and detachment from material possessions has been liked by the people of the state.He is also one of the founding members of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage. His elder sister is the writer Gita Mehta.

Political career

Naveen Patnaik at the Opening Ceremony Hockey World Cup 2018

After the death of his father Biju Patnaik, leader of the Janata Dal, he was elected as a member to the 11th Lok Sabha in the by-election from Aska Parliamentary Cons*uency in Odisha, India. He was a member of the Consultative Committee of Ministry of Steel & Mines, Member of Standing Committee on Commerce, and Member Library Committee of Parliament. In December 1997, Naveen split from the Janata Dal and founded the Biju Janata Dal. The new party was in alliance with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance performed well and Naveen Patnaik was selected the Union Minister for Mines in the cabinet of A. B. Vajpayee.

Elections 2000

In the 2000 *embly election, BJD won the majority of seats in alliance with the BJP in the Odisha *embly elections, Patnaik resigned from the Union cabinet and was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Odisha.

Elections 2004

BJP led NDA lost the general elections in 2004, however, the coalition led by Naveen Patnaik emerged victorious in the state legislative elections and he continued as the Chief Minister. During this tenure, the friction between the ruling partners was getting more and more apparent, especially after the killing of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati in the Kandhamal district of Odisha in 2007–2008 and also the active participation of Bajrang Dal in the riots that hit Kandhamal region.

Elections 2009

In the run-up to the polls for the Lok Sabha and Legislative *embly of Odisha elections in 2009, BJD walked out of the NDA after severing ties with the BJP and joined the nascent Third Front cons*uted mainly by the Left Front and few regional parties. He did it after severely criticizing BJP's involvement in Kandhamal anti-Christian riots during 2007. The BJD won a resounding victory in both the Vidhan Sabha (State *embly) as well as the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, winning 14 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats and 103 of the 147 *embly seats and was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Odisha on 21 May 2009 for the third consecutive term.

Elections 2014

Patnaik won a huge victory in both the 2014 Indian general elections and the Legislative *embly of Odisha elections in 2014. Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal secured 20 out of the 21 Lok Sabha seats of Odisha and 117 of the 147 Odisha Vidhan Sabha seats.

Elections 2019

Inspite of a strong BJP wave across the country, the Biju Janata Dal, under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik won as many as 112 seats out of 146 (polls for 1 was deferred) in the Legislative *embly of Odisha and 12 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 Indian general elections.

Electoral history

Language

Naveen Patnaik in 2016

Patnaik spent most of his early days away from Odisha, so he has problems with writing and speaking fluently in Odia language. He is the only chief minister of India who does not speak fluently the regional language of his state and because of this, he has been facing severe criticism from his opponents. Presently, Patnaik has an adequate working knowledge of Odia and he possesses great mastery over Hindi, French, Punjabi, and English. At rallies, he delivers Odia speeches written in Roman alphabet.

Accolades

Naveen Patnaik receiving Outlook Speakout award for best administrator from former President of India Pranab Mukherjee in the presence of Arun Jaitley

Recognitions

The United Nations in 2013, felicitated Naveen by presenting a citation for his government’s handling of Cyclone Phailin which hit Odisha in October 2013. The body also announced that the state’s efforts would be highlighted as a model for disaster management programs globally. Naveen was also invited by the international body to attend the 2015 Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (WCDRR), which was held in Sendai, *an from 14 to 18 March 2015.
The United Nations in 2019, complimented Naveen for his government's proposal of reserving 33% of seats for women in the National Parliament as well as in the state's Legislative *embly.

Writings

A Second Paradise: Indian Courtly Life 1590–1947 – Published in India, England and US
A Desert Kingdom: The People of Bikaner – Published in India, England and US
The Garden of Life: An Introduction to the Healing Plants of India – Published in India, England and US

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naveen Patnaik.

Official website
Notable personalities of Odisha, including Naveen Patnaik, in Orissadiary website
Notable personalities of Odisha as per the Govt. of Odisha official web site
Odisha's accidental politician, BBC
Official biographical sketch in Parliament of India website

Longest-serving chief ministers
Female chief ministers
From the Bharatiya Janata Party
From the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
From the Indian National Congress

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