Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik has achieved another milestone in his political journey. Setting aside West Bengal’s former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu’s record, Patnaik has become the second such Chief Minister who has completed the highest number of terms.
Patnaik started his political journey in 1997, after the demise of his father Biju Patnaik. A year later, he founded Biju Janata Dal, named after his father. On March 5, 2000, he became the Chief Minister of Odisha.
Patnaik has been serving as the Chief Minister for the fifth time in a row. His former West Bengal counterpart late Jyoti Basu served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for 23 years 138 days, in the 34 years of CPM’s governance.
Patnaik on Saturday surpassed the record of Basu and has become the second longest-serving Chief Minister of the nation.
Notably, former Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Kumar Chamling is the longest-serving Chief Minister of any Indian state. He became the Chief Minister of Sikkim on December 12, 1994, and continued till May 27, 2019.
Expressing his happiness, senior BJD leader Prasanna Acharya said, “I feel happy that our Chief Minister has broken the record of West Bengal’s Chief Minister Jyoti Basu. I am sure that he will break all the records of the past and will emerge as the longest-serving Chief Minister of India.”
Senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari said, “That how long one served as the Chief Minister doesn’t find mention in the pages of history. Rather, those who create history in a short period make their way to the pages of history.
Comparing Naveen Patnaik to a tree, Pujari said, “The role of a huge and old tree is next to nothing if it doesn’t provide shade and if its fruits are not fit for consumption.”
In his reaction, Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja said, “We will definitely welcome Naveen Patnaik for him breaking the record of former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu. But what pains us is that during this term, he himself is not doing anything.”
Senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, “It is hardly seen that any politician can enjoy the faith of the people of any state for such a long period. Those who are coming to politics should follow Naveen Patnaik to learn how to win the hearts of people and how to win the faith of the people.