The state government is planning to confer legal entity to Bhaag Chaasi (share croppers) as per media reports. But don’t you think that would lead to a conflict between the original landowners and the sharecroppers?

There is no such thing as Bhaag Chaasi under the Orissa Land Reforms Act anymore. Till now, there has been no move to confer legal entity to share croppers. These reports have been fabricated by media. We have decided to provide financial assistance to that person who has actually cultivated the land and has incurred losses due to unseasonal rain. The revenue authority will go to every village and verify from the local people about the real cultivators.

It was reported that farmers of the state suffered due to your difference of opinion with cabinet colleague Damodar Rout. He did not agree with the “unseasonal rains” part and it led to a delay in assessing the damages. What is your take on this?

There was no such difference of opinion with Dama babu. The media always manipulates things and has created this rumour. He simply said we should wait for some more time before ascertaining that the reason for crop loss is untimely rain. But there were indeed untimely, cyclonic rains in the state due to which our farmers in 17 districts had been adversely affected.

But the Opposition and others have alleged that Naveen Patnaik did not call for an all-party meeting to put forth the demand for relief assistance before the Centre. What are your views?

The Congress leaders never go to the field, they just sit in Bhubaneswar and issue statements, while my CM visited four districts. The Congress-led governments in Andhra (Pradesh) and Maharashtra met Sonia Gandhi and told her about the plight of farmers during their plenary session held in New Delhi. But the state Congress party members discussed about presidentship of their party instead of highlighting the misery of farmers. Congress is working against the interests of the state at the behest of UPA.

Why is it that the state government always criticises the Centre on every issue?

Ever since the UPA government was formed at the Centre, it has neglected our state continuously. When we found that the central government is hampering the progress of the state, it is but natural for us to revolt; we have no other way.

During the BJD executive body meet, Naveen Patnaik asserted that there was no other power centre in the party except him. But isn’t party ideologue Pyari Mohan Mohapatra considered a parallel power centre?

Naveen Patnaik is the supreme in the party, under whose leadership we are all together. As far as Pyari babu is concerned, he gives more time to the party due to which a lot of party workers have great respect for him.

Why do the party workers touch his feet if they don’t believe him to be the second most powerful?

People touch Pyari babu’s feet since he is an elderly person. Even I don’t hesitate to do that. It is Hindu culture.

lBut who wields more power?

They are like Krishna and Arjuna. Naveen babu is Krishna who drives the chariot (state) and Pyari babu is Arjuna who shoots the arrows. I am just a soldier.

What do you consider more important: loyalty to party leader (Naveen Patnaik) or efficiency at work?

To sustain in a democratic party, naturally you have to give more priority to the party leader. You have to understand his mindset and work along those lines. For me, party leader comes first and then the party and its ideologies.

There have been reports that Naveen Patnaik is contemplating to axe you from the cabinet ministry. How do you react to this?

All these are political gossips. It is entirely the prerogative of Naveen Patnaik as to whom he will keep in the ministry. But I have 100 per cent confidence in my CM.

From hawker to MLA

● Capable of holding on his own on a slippery political turf, 62-year-old Surjya Narayan Patro is the son of freedom fighter, late P. Kasi Patro, who was part of a few anti-British movements.

● As a student of Khallikote College, Berhampur, he represented the College Union several times in different capacities. He took active part in students' agitation in 1964 and was imprisoned. He spearheaded the movement for establishment of Berhampur University in 1967 and was a member of the Berhampur Municipal Council

● Patro's journey in the political sphere has been rife with ups and downs. He contested for the parliamentary elections twice and met with no success. But, today, he is into his fifth term in the state legislative Assembly and is at the helm of the revenue and disaster management departments

● From 1990-2000, he represent Mohana Assembly constituency on a Janata Dal ticket. After that he contested the elections as a Biju Janata Dal candidate. Since 2004, he has been an MLA from Digapahandi constituency

● He has held several important portfolios in the state such as minister of state, fisheries and animal resources development, minister of energy, science and technology and environment, minister of information technology and tourism. He has also been chairman of OMFED, OPOLFED and FISHFED

what would you have been Had you not been a politician?

I am the son of a freedom fighter, who used to eke out a living by hawking newspapers. Even I hawked newspapers (even Anandabazar Patrika). I was in charge of various key posts in my college. I participated in a students’ agitation. With our efforts, the Berhampur University was established. Then Biju (Patnaik) babu gave me a ticket to contest elections in 1984 and 1989, but I lost both times. I won the elections the next year and have stayed on ever since. For 17 years (from 1972-89), I was also a practicing lawyer. If not a politician, I would have been a lawyer.