The Naveen Mystique

How the reticent Odisha CM charted a remarkable turnaround in what was once India's most backward state. After 17 years in power, what more does he need to do to win a fifth term?

- Raj Chengappa

Naveen Patnaik is an oddity in Indian politics. The chief minister of Odisha fights shy of the limelight. When he does venture out to a public function, he wants minimum fuss. At the recent launch of the mascot for the Asian Athletics Championship to be held in Bhubaneswar, Patnaik feebly waved to the youth who had gathered to greet him. He then read out a short statement in English. (He still does not speak Oriya fluently and makes seriously boring speeches that are mercifully short). He could have boasted that Odisha had taken on the responsibility of organising the meet at short notice after neighbouring Jharkhand had backed off. But Patnaik is too much of a gentleman. He cursorily displayed the T-shirt being released for the occasion and dropped it on the table before the press could take a good shot. He didn’t shake hands with the mascot (Ollie, the Ridley turtle), something that could have endeared him to the crowds. He then got into his car—a compact, no-frills Suzuki SX4 bought by the state government six years ago—and sped off to attend a conference of district collectors at the secretariat, convened to review the progress of major government programmes.