Raighar, Nov. 25: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had a walking stick assisting him, but that did not stop him from almost breaking into a jig to the beats of tribal music. After being forced to stay at home for a week because of a strained ligament, Naveen today joined the campaign for the Umerkote assembly by-election.

About 25,000 tribal people, who thronged Naveen’s meeting at Raighar in colourful gear beating drums, cheered at the sight of him tapping the stage with his walking stick in gay abandon and rent the sky with cries of “Naveen Patnaik zindabad” and “BJD zindabad”.

This impromptu interaction between the chief minister and the crowd continued for nearly two minutes. Senior party leader Pyari Mohan Mohapatra and BJD youth wing president Sanjay Das Burma also joined the chief minister as he regaled the crowd on the stage.

The atmosphere at the Raighar mini-stadium was electrifying with local residents trooping in wearing their best clothes on tractors, trucks and jeeps, apparently arranged by the ruling party leaders. Warming up the crowd for the chief minister, who arrived in a helicopter, was film star-turned-MP Siddhant Mohapatra, who sang Odia songs. The party had also roped in local artists including sankirtan parties to perform at the stadium.

The sight of the chief minister’s chopper sent the crowd into a frenzy as those gathered rushed towards the landing area. “He has given us rice, kerosene and sugar. He has even given bicycles to our children. We will not betray him,” said 43-year-old Saudari Gand.

However, for quite a few of them, the helicopter was the major attraction. “It’s nice to see this flying machine. We are seeing so many leaders from Bhubaneswar here for the first time,” said Dibya Mandi.

Speaking at the meeting, Naveen listed the achievements of his government including the Rs 2-a-kg rice scheme, free bicycles for Class X girls and other welfare schemes. He lashed out at both Congress and the BJP calling them corrupt. The chief minister criticised the Congress-led UPA for refusing to concede the state’s demand for special category status.

Apart from Pyari Mohan Mohapatra and Sanjay Das Burma, panchayati raj minister Maheshwar Mohanty, revenue minister Surya Narayan Patro and agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy attended Naveen’s meetings at Raighar and Umerkote today.

Security was tight at both the venues because the area is Maoist-affected. The rebels had killed the sitting MLA Jagbandhu Majhi on September 24 necessitating a by-election. While Subas Ganda, a close associate of the slain MLA is contesting as the BJD candidate, the BJP has fielded former MLA Dharmu Ganda. The Congress has fielded Jatindra Ganda as its candidate.

“At the moment, it would be difficult to hazard a guess on who will win this contest,” said Santan Ganda, a local resident.

State BJP vice-president Ashok Sahu said the party was highlighting the misuse of power by the BJD. “In Umerkote, as many as 11 ministers, eight MPS and 42 MLAs are camping. This is gross misuse of official power. A lot of money has come into the constituency for distribution among the voters,” said Sahu.