You belong to the Chikiti royal family. Can you feel the pulse of the common man?

Of course. Otherwise, how do I get my votes? These days, even if you come from a royal family, it does not mean you are excluded from the common people. You are very much a part of them. People with a royal background have always mingled with the public, understood their problems and worked for their progress. My father was an MLA from 1952 to 1980 in Andhra Pradesh and my father-in-law was elected to the Assembly twice. (Her brother V. Kishore Chandra Deo too is a politician and a Union cabinet minister.) The notion that royal families are alienated from the people is wrong.

You are a four-time MLA and have not lost an Assembly election since 2000. But you were not included in the ministry until May 2011. Have you got your due quite late?

Not at all. I never had the craze to become a minister. As an MLA, I have always received great support from the chief minister, other ministers and bureaucrats to work for the development of Chikiti, my constituency. But I was never interested in a ministerial berth. Now I have been burdened with more responsibilities. I am not a free bird anymore. If I am asked to quit the cabinet, I would be very happy to oblige.

There is a popular perception that you are being overshadowed by stalwarts like Ramakrushna Patnaik and Surjya Narayan Patro who hail from your home district, undivided Ganjam. Do you perceive them as threat to your political career?

You have got it all wrong. I lobbied for Surjya Narayan Patro when he was not included in the ministry last time. There is no threat perception. As long as I am in politics, I will do my best to develop my constituency.

Your brother, V. Kishore Chandra Deo, is the Union minister for panchayati raj and tribal affairs. Does Orissa stand to benefit from your relationship?

Maybe, I am really not sure. I have never analysed things that far. We are in different parties — he belongs to the Congress and I am a member of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). And when we go out in the field, we honour our commitment to our respective parties.

Has this political rivalry affected your personal relationship with your brother?

There has never been any personal clash between us. My father-in-law was also a member of the Congress.

You have earlier said that Biju Patnaik was your mentor. How do you compare the late chief minister with his son, Naveen?

I don’t believe in making comparisons. Biju babu was a statesman, a visionary. He was a great leader. Naveen Patnaik is in no way less capable than his father. He is taking forward Biju babu’s mission of taking the state on the path of prosperity and progress.

There has been a lot of infighting in the BJD of late. How are things now? Is the party on the path of prosperity and progress?

I have no news about any infighting.

It seems you stay away from a lot of things that goes on within the party.

How can I stay away from anything that happens inside the party? But to my knowledge there have been no serious fights.

Ganjam, which also happens to be home district of chief minister Naveen Patnaik, remains highly violence-prone. The violence in Kodala region is a recent example. Does it not reflect poorly on the ruling party?

The district is very close to the Andhra border and it is due to the influence of outside elements that violence had taken place. But the police and local administration are taking steps to bring the situation under control.

The district has been also affected by drought because of deficient rainfall. What is the present situation?

We were actually facing a drought. But thanks to the recent rain, the situation has improved to some extent. We have raised the issue with the appropriate authorities.

After you took over the textile and handloom ministry, uplift of weavers of the state was on the top of your agenda. But weavers of the state have not participated in the Silk Mark Expo-2011. Has this been embarrassing for you?

It is true that our weavers are not participating. There are certain issues on which I don’t want to comment. A wrong message has gone to the media.

What are your plans for the science and technology department?

As of now, things are okay but a little more effort is required to put things in order. I am still getting to know both my departments. As far as textile and handloom is concerned, my vision is to promote our weavers and products.

From homemaker to lawmaker

Soft-spoken and headstrong, 59-year-old Usha Devi is a four-time legislator from Chikiti constituency in Ganjam district

She made her political debut in 1985 and was elected to the Assembly for the first time in 1990

After losing the polls in 1995, she made a comeback in 2000 and since then, has been elected as an MLA for three consecutive terms

With an experience of 26 years in state politics, Usha Devi was inducted into the ministry for the first time in May 2011 and given the portfolio of textile and handloom as well as science and technology

Usha Devi completed her graduation in arts with Indian history, political science and economics as subjects

She also holds a degree in journalism

She has been involved in social work since her college days and is keenly associated with sports such as cycling, badminton, baseball and throwball

She earlier held the position of senate member of Berhampur University and president of the Women’s Cooperative Bank in Berhampur

Before entering into politics, Usha Devi was a full-time homemaker

She is married to Chikiti prince Trigunateeta Deb

What would you have been had you not been a politician?

Politics was an unexpected venture for me. The late chief minister, Biju Patnaik, was a very close associate of our family and wanted me to contest the elections in 1985. Though my father-in-law was in the Congress party, he listened to Biju babu. My husband also supported the decision and that is how I entered politics. Otherwise, I was a housewife and had time to indulge in my hobbies, such as cooking, interior decoration, flower arrangement, badminton and other sports. I love listening to music and reading books. But now I am so busy with my work that I hardly get time for all that.