Naveen Patnaik 5.0: Here is all you need to know about the simple, yet powerful politician

Patnaik is only the third Indian chief Minister after Pawan Chamling and Jyoti Basu to win five consecutive terms as Chief Minister of an Indian state.

Five-time Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik/ Image: PTI/ File

New Delhi: Naveen Patnaik, the 72 year-old politician widely popular for his gentlemanly behaviour, humility and simple lifestyle, was sworn in on Wednesday as the Chief Minister of Odisha for a record fifth term in a row. Patnaik, not only battled the pervasive Modi wave with exemplary integrity, but also managed to thwart the BJP challenge not only in the assembly polls but also in the parliamentary polls. He was one among the only three leaders who stood strong, when state after state the opposition collapsed under the Modi wave. The other two were Jagan Mohan Reddy in Andhra Pradesh, M K Stalin of the DMK, which fought the elections in alliance with the Congress in Tamil Nadu. Here are some note-worthy facts about Patnaik:

• Patnaik is currently the longest serving Chief Minister of any Indian state.
• He is only the third Indian chief Minister after Pawan Chamling and Jyoti Basu to win five consecutive terms as Chief Minister of an Indian state
• Born before independence on 16 October 1946 in Cuttack, Naveen Patnaik is the son of former Chief Minister of Odisha Biju Patnaik.
• The Biju Janata Dal president is also a writer and has published four books.
• Interestingly, he had for most part of his youth been away from both politics and Odisha.
• It was after the death of his father Biju Patnaik in 1997 that he entered politics and founded the Biju Janata Dal, named after his father.
• The BJD won the state election with the BJP as alliance and formed the government in which Patnaik became Chief Minister.
• Patnaik is one of those few politicians for whom the voters have show constant and unflinched support.
• Patnaik who keeps a low profile, is widely respected in the state for his mannerism, his stand against corruption and pro-poor polices.
• He has also been complimented by the UN for his government’s proposal of 33percent reservation for women in Parliament and the state Assemblies.