Latest revision as of 15:12, 14 May 2024

[edit] The Patnaiks

[edit] Biju, JB, Naveen (intermittently: 1961-2019)

Ashok Pradhan, Reign of Patnaiks: 40 years and counting, April 13, 2019: The Times of India

The Patnaik surname has been synonymous with Odisha’s political history. In the 70 years since independence, Odisha politics has been dominated by one Patnaik or another for four decades.

The reign of the Patnaiks began with Biju, followed by Janaki Ballabh of Congress, and then Biju’s son Naveen, the current CM and BJD leader, who has been in the saddle for 19 years.

Taken together, they have held the chief ministership for more than 40 years now — Biju seven years in two terms (1961-1963, 1990-1995), JB nearly 15 years in three terms (1980-1985, 1985-1989 and 1995-1999) and Naveen, 2000 onwards. Eleven other chief ministers have ruled Odisha.

Naveen could, however, be the last from the Biju Patnaik family to enter politics. So far, the 73-year-old has avoided involving any other member of his family in politics. His sister, Gita Mehta, has avoided the public gaze and elder brother Prem Patnaik runs his own business in Delhi-NCR.

But the JB clan, which is not related to the Biju clan and has for long been considered Congress’ first family in Odisha, continues to hold sway despite the party having lost its sheen in the state. Though JB and Biju were political rivals, JB’s son-in-law Soumya Ranjan, a BJD Rajya Sabha member, entered the fray from Khandapada assembly seat on a BJD ticket. Congress had announced the name of JB’s son as an MLA candidate from Begunia, the seat represented by JB twice, but he backed out after showing initial interest.

Soumya’s elder brother Niranjan is Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president and will be contesting from two assembly seats, Ghasipura and Bhandaripokhari this time. Niranjan’s son Nabajyoti will debut from the Balasore Lok Sabha seat as Congress nominee. Niranjan was a minister in JB’s cabinet in all his three terms.

The extended Patnaik family of Soumya and Niranjan have business interest cutting across sectors, from mining to automobile, real estate to media and education and seafood.

The Patnaiks belong to the ‘Karana’ caste, who make up less than 1% of the state’s population but dominate the political landscape in a state that has not been known to vote on caste lines. Odisha’s population includes 22.8% scheduled tribes, 17% scheduled castes and 54% backward castes.

[edit] As in 2024 May

Ashok Pradhan, May 11, 2024: The Times of India

Bhubaneswar: The Patnaiks have been the most dominant force in Odisha’s political and economic landscape. Just three individuals from two Patnaik families —Janaki Ballav (JB), Biju and the latter’s son Naveen — have governed the state as chief ministers for 45 years of the 77 since Independence. In the last 32 years, however, Odisha has seen 11 CMs.


Patnaiks, with variations in spelling, belong to the ‘Karan’ caste. Another prominent surname from the community is Mohanty. They comprise around 2% of the state’s population. Such is their prominence in Odisha’s politics that many refer to them as “political caste” by many.


Naveen, seeking a sixth term in office, has been at the helm since March 2000. If elected again, he will become the country’s longest serving CM in Aug, going past Sikkim ex-CM Pawan Chamling. His father, Biju, was Odisha CM from 1961 to 1963 and 1990 to 1995. JB governed the state for 14 years, from 1980 to 1989, and again from 1995 to 1999.


A bachelor at 77, Naveen, has earlier said no member of his family would enter politics. It has, however, been a subject of speculation that either his nephew Arun Patnaik or his niece Gayatri, kids of his elder brother Prem, may take over. The chatter has subsided recently with Naveen’s aide, V K Pandian, emerging as BJD’s second-in-command.


Another Karan, Nabakrushna Chaudhary (1950-1952 and 1952 to 1956) was CM for six years. Other CMs include largely Brahmins, some Rajputs, barring Nilamani Routray (OBC, 1977-1980), and two tribals Hemananda Biswal and Giridhar Gamang. The total tenure of Hemananda (Dec 1989-March 1990, Dec 1999-March 2000) and Giridhar (Feb 1999 to Dec 1999) as CM was 14 months.


“Karans and Brahmins together comprise less than 10% of the population but continue to dominate Odisha’s politics and business,” said R K Satapathy, a retired political science professor.


Shukadeb Naik, a former sociology professor, said unlike many other states, caste has never been much of a factor in among voters in Odisha. However, the leadership position has been largely occupied by the forward castes. “Giridhar and Hemanand may be called exceptions as they were made CMs for a few months each as a token gesture by the Congress high command,” he said. The state has around 22.8% tribals and 17% Scheduled Castes and an estimated over 50% OBCs.


Patnaiks dominate leadership positions in the opposition rank and files as well. Congress state unit president Sarat Pattanayak and its election coordination committee chief Bijay Patnaik, a former chief secretary, are from the Karan caste though from different clans.


Members of Congress strongman JB’s clan are also fighting polls. JB’s son, Pruthvi Ballav (47), is seeking to make his political debut from Begunia on a Congress ticket. JB’s son-in-law, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, has entered the fray from Ghasipura assembly seat as an Independent. Soumya, a media baron, was elected BJD MLA in 2019. His elder brother Niranjan Patnaik, a former Odisha Congress chief, has been contesting from the Bhandaripokhari assembly seat.


Dipti Ranjan Patnaik, the elder brother of Niranjan and Soumya, leads a business empire with interests ranging from mining to seafood. The Karan caste’s influence can be seen across various sectors — real estate, education, media, seafood and mining in this mineral-rich state. The SN Mohanty Group, another business house owned by the Karans, donated around Rs 45 crore in electoral bonds to BJD.


Though the current state BJP chief Manmohan Samal and party’s prominent Odisha face Dharmendra Pradhan belong to OBCs, Samir Mohanty, who was earlier the state BJP chief, is a Karan. Two notable figures in BJP, Aparajita Sarangi and Baijayant Panda, are Brahmins.

[edit] The Naveen Patnaik era

[edit] 19 years in office (2000-19); looking ahead in 2019

Ashok Pradhan, March 15, 2019: The Times of India

BJD vs. NDA in Odisha, as in 2019 March
From: Ashok Pradhan, March 15, 2019: The Times of India

In office since 2000, and with 20 out of Odisha’s 21 Lok Sabha seats in his kitty, four-time chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik is confident of holding his stead one more time, in the face of an emergent BJP.

The state — where assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held simultaneously — will vote in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29.

To overcome perceived anti-incumbency, Naveen – who was BJP’s ally until 2009 and professes to maintain equidistance from both the saffron party and Congress since parting ways with the former — has focused on his image as a clean politician, his popularity with women voters, welfare schemes such as Kalia (cash assistance for farmers) while highlighting the alleged neglect of Odisha by the Centre.

Many say the 73-year-old bachelor’s image may be squeaky clean, much like the pristine white kurta-pyjama he favours, but that of his government is considerably less so. While Naveen has never been accused of graft in his four terms as chief minister, his government has drawn the opposition’s ire for chit fund and mining scams.

“Naveen’s incorruptible image will be his biggest asset as he seeks a fifth consecutive term. Political rivals have no leader to match his stature,” said Jayant Mohapatra, a retired professor of political science in Berhampur University.

Many also feel Naveen played his trump card hours before the poll dates were announced on Sunday. At a public meeting in Kendrapada, he said Odisha would reserve 33% of its LS seats for women candidates, thus fulfilling his promise to field women in at least seven of the 21 parliamentary seats in Odisha.

Though BJP spokesperson and fellow Odia, Sambit Patra, countered by asking why Naveen was not replicating this in the assembly polls, the unprecedented initiative is likely to endear the CM to his core vote bank of women. In 2012, he had increased the seats reserved for women in panchayati raj institutions to 50% from the 33% introduced by his father, the late Biju Patnaik, in the 90s. Women self-help groups, which get subsidised loans from the government, are key to Naveen’s continued run as CM.

Another strategy Patnaik has adopted is to replace several sitting MLAs and MPs to beat localised anti-incumbency. The regional party has 118 MLAs in the outgoing assembly of 147. “At least 15 MP candidates and 50 MLA candidates will be replaced,” a BJD insider said.

In the past month, Naveen has toured all 21 Lok Sabha segments multiple times and addressed several public meetings. A man of few words, he tends to keep his speeches short; even so, he has coined a catchphrase to draw claps and cheers – ‘aapana maane khusi ta? Mu bi khusi’ (Are you happy? I am also happy). The question has become the rage in villages and towns of the state.

Naveen also does his meetings with a twist: his ministers and senior party leaders sit among the audience and are not allowed to speak. Instead, little-known women, farmers and youths share the stage with the chief minister, take selfies with him and deliver speeches. “This has endeared Naveen to the people, they can identify with his simplicity. He listens to the people more than he speaks to them,” said senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya.

The strategy seems to be working. Laxmipriya Sha, a woman farmer from Balangir who shared the dais with Naveen at a public meeting in Bargarh district, said, “I don’t know of any farmer in my village who has shared the stage with the CM and been allowed to speak. It is an honour for the farmer community.”

BJP and Congress — faced with the Naveen juggernaut — are hoping the people are in the mood for change. “ E veryone is comparing 19 years of Naveen in Odisha with just five years of Modi at the Centre,” BJP state vice-president Sameer Mohanty said.

“People see new hope in Congress as we have promised complete farm loan waiver, better support price for paddy (Rs 2,600 per quintal up from the current Rs 1,750) and guaranteed monthly income,” said Odisha state Congress president

[edit] Economy vis-à-vis neighbouring states

[edit] 2012-23

Economy vis-à-vis neighbouring states, 2012-23
From: [From the archives, Dec 25, 2023: The Times of India]

Odisha, pre 1992
From: [From the archives, Dec 25, 2023: The Times of India]

See graphics:

Economy vis-à-vis neighbouring states, 2012-23

Odisha, pre 1992

[edit] Flashpoints

[edit] 1999: Baranga gang rape

Debabrata Mohapatra, February 22, 2021: The Times of India

Odisha: Baranga gang-rape survivor demands death for main accused

BHUBANESWAR: The woman, who was gang-raped by three men in Baranga area of Cuttack in January 1999, heaved a sigh of relief following the arrest of main accused Bibekananda Biswal on Monday and demanded that he should be hanged.

“The CBI had sat silent for all these years. I am grateful to police commissioner Sudhanshu Sarangi for finally providing me with some justice. I struggled with untold misery and trauma for the last two decades. There were several attempts to kill me,” she told the media.

The survivor said the prime accused should have been arrested when former chief minister JB Patnaik was alive. It must be noted that JB had to tender his resignation amid furore over the case. The woman had accused JB and his close associate (a former advocate general) of having engaged the accused to rape her.

Retired Orissa high court judge, justice A S Naidu, who had in 2010 upheld the life imprisonment of Pradeep Sahu and Dhirendra Mohanty, issued by Khurda sessions court in 2002, praised the commissionerate police for managing to nab the main accused. Naidu in his order had come down heavily on the CBI for failing to arrest the main accused.

[edit] YEAR WISE STATISTICS

[edit] 2024

[edit] BJP, BJD to contest polls separately: no tie-up

March 23, 2024: The Times of India

Bhubaneswar: Two weeks after it started exploring a tie-up with BJD for LS and assembly polls, BJP ruled out an alliance with the regional party while positioning itself as flagbearers of Odia pride, reports Ashok Pradhan.


“Our concerns are on issues relating to pride, dignity and welfare of (Odiyas)... We are unable to agree with the state govt,” state BJP chief Manmohan Samal posted.