February 23, 1998

Aska  Orissa
Electorate: 11.2 lakh
Main Rival: C Sahu (Congress)

Naveen Patnaik has journeyed well. All those clichés about the cocktail-party throwing, delicate darling have been put to rest. He's courting ordinary people the hard way, just the way his father Biju did for over five decades. But unlike his father, Naveen is also courting the BJP.

"It's a humbling experience," admits 51-year-old Naveen, as he navigates through the slush of Aska. Sullied and drenched, he is gallantly attempting to be a people's man. Mineral water is strictly out, so are the cans of Coke he had guzzled during his initiation into electoral campaigning the last time round. This time, he is taking his chances and quenching his thirst from roadside stalls and eating at ordinary village homes. Is his stomach okay? "Touch wood, yes," Naveen nods. The legendary father's son is obviously riding his luck besides a sympathy wave.

Riding in and out of localities, he smiles benignly, does a quick namaste. Star struck, his voters gape. But it ends there, for they can't talk to him or he to them, language still a barrier. So Naveen must keep parroting a familiar excuse in Oriya, "Khama koruntu. Tikke samay lagibo (Pardon me, it will take some more time)." Being among the masses has its limits. And every night he must return to the comfort of his sea front hotel in Gopalpur. Even if that means cruising 100 km just for a good night's sleep. Some things must never change.

-- Ruben Banerjee

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