Why Odisha loves its Chief Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik

It was a dark stormy morning. Rain clouds with the steep wind swirling around. As Laxmi looked out of her beachside house window near Gopalpur in Odisha, her palpitations increased. The surging foamy waves and the howling cyclonic winds of fast approaching PHAILIN made her mud thatched house shudder. Her five year old son in hand, she prayed to God for a divine intervention.A few hours later, the district administration of Ganjam landed at her door, evacuated her to a storm shelter, gave her and her little son warm food and helped her back home. With tears of thankfulness in her heart, she prayed to God to bless all the ''Babu-log'' who helped her here and took care of her now; unlike 1999 when as a young girl she was left to the mercy of the super-cyclone that hit Odisha. Little did she know that at the very moment when she was praying with tears of relief in her eyes; at the same time about 10 lakh people of Odisha had been drawn out from the path of destruction into life at safe shelters, thanks to the prompt action of the Odisha Government led by its strong Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik. The entire State administration burnt the midnight lamp for several days in the run-up to countering the gigantic PHAILIN and did all in their mortal capacity to face this natural disaster. It was the commitment of the Biju Janata Dal supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Shri Naveen Patnaik which saved the lives of lakhs of people like Lakshmi. Mr. Naveen Patnaik categorically stated the objective to counter PHAILIN, it was ''zero-casualty.'' That became the buzzword for the entire Government of Odisha. From bureaucrats in Bhubaneswar to the district, block and panchayat level officers, the entire administration sprang to the occasion with a resolute heart and a single-minded devotion to not let one life go in vain. The next day morning after PHAILIN had passed by, when Laxmi made her way back to her house with the help of the district administration; all he found was a heap of stones and a sparse covering of mud. No house, no roof but only a tragic tale of devastation. Within hours, he state Government of Odisha swung into action and the rebuilding and restoration process stated with clock-work precision. Within five days,her house was back in shape and she went back to the warm hearth that she called home. She fleetingly knew that the man who ran the state of Odisha was Mr. Naveen Patnaik. She had seen him when he had come near her village for a meeting. She had heard of him. Cradling her son on her lap with a faraway look she realized that she had been saved, her son was safe and the storm which had attempted to devastate her life had actually gifted her a rebuilt house; thanks to the prompt action of the Odisha Government. Her mind drifted to the local Babu-log of the Government and then to the local administration and finally raced to the man who had gotten it to all happen. She knew that the ''Naveen Babu'' had done all this for her, with concern in his heart and compassion for all like her. She had been discussing for a few days now with her neighbors. They had added their inputs and unanimity on the strong leadership of Shri Naveen Patnaik who had worked so hard to ensure that Laxmi and lakhs like her were safe and sound. With a couple of tear drops trickling down her cheek, she thanked God for his divine intervention by having installed a person like Shri Naveen Patnaik who had a genuine emotion for the well-being of poor people like her.

There are many Laxmis you will find in Odisha today. They will tell you the success story of Shri Naveen Patnaik and Biju Janata Dal. Do you feel that a person like Laxmi who feel gratified for being alive today and attributes it to Shri Naveen Patnaik would not connect to the Chief Minister? She is already connected to him in mind and spirit and for what he did to ensure the safety of Laxmi and her son.Do you think come elections she would think twice before pressing the button next to the Conch symbol, the BJD party's symbol? No,she will not think twice; she will vote for the Conch and get a few more to vote for it too. Not because someone has told her to. She would do it because she has realized that she owes her safety to a man called Shri Naveen Patnaik. The time to redeem her gratitude had come and she will harness it in full measure for the man whom she prays for. The United Nations has hailed this huge achievement of saving lakhs of people from the devastation of PHAILIN cyclone due to Shri Naveen Patnaik's Government with a citation honouring Shri Patnaik for this wonderful feat. The international community has recognized Shri Naveen Patnaik as a leader par excellence. But for Laxmi, who doesn't know United Nations or its whereabouts, she only knows that she is alive due to the prompt and strong leadership of Shri Naveen Patnaik.

People wonder why Biju Janata Dal wins elections after elections. It is due to these Laxmis who have witnessed the good work of Shri Naveen Patnaik up close and have benefitted immensely and would do anything to ensure that Shri Naveen Patnaik stays as their leader, their Chief Minister till kingdom come. In 2014, it is Laxmi who will give the final answer to all the doubting Thomases and once again justify why Odisha is perpetually in love with Shri. Naveen Patnaik. He does not preach but he practices; he does not only promise but he also delivers That's why Odisha loves its Chief Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik. That's why Odisha wants Shri Naveen Patnaik to win his fourth successive election and continue as the Chief Minister of Odisha.