Will Naveen Make Or Be History?

The BJD Patriarch Faces His Fiercest Challenge Ever As A Determined Bjp Works To Stymie His Bid To Become India's Longest-serving Chief Minister

- RAJ CHENGAPPA, Arkamoy Datta Majumdar

SUNSET HAS TURNED THE SKY A FLAMING RED, IN STEP WITH THE CRIMSON of the blooming Gulmohar trees that line the route of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's roadshow in the heart of state capital Bhubaneswar on May 20. A gentle breeze brings relief from the humid heat for the mass of supporters that throng either side. Women in elegant Sambalpuris, the intricately-woven handloom saris native to the state, wave green BJD (Biju Janata Dal) flags, the white conch shell symbol of the party shimmering in the centre. Some are even sporting cardboard face masks of his. Three rows of dhol players drum up a percussion storm as women in tribal attire perform the Dalkhai, the popular rhythmic folk dance of harvest season.

The drumbeats of history are indeed beating loud and clear for Naveen. By setting out on these packed roadshows, Odisha's five-time chief minister is hoping to reap another rich harvest of votes and break all electoral records with a sixth consecutive term for the BJD and himself. Elections to the state's 147 legislative assembly seats are being held simultaneously with that for its 21 Lok Sabha seats. If Naveen wins and becomes chief minister again, he will be in pole position to overtake Pawan Chamling's record as the longest-serving chief minister in the country's legislative history. Chamling was Sikkim CM for 24 years and 165 days. On June 4, when the results will be announced, Naveen would have completed 24 years and 91 days, short by a mere 74 days to claim the top honours. But should he fail to secure a majority in the state polls, he will be history as, at age 77, this will probably be the last election he will contest.