There is a perception among some of your party workers that you are just doing a clerical job here as the BJD general secretary and you lack potentiality. What’s your take?

In a democratic country, people are free to express themselves. Let them say what they want to. I know I am not doing a clerical job here. I conduct Zilla meetings, write circulars, and look into the organisational work of the BJD. Does that make me a clerk?

You were in the race for Rajya Sabha election. While a party hopper like Baishnab Parida managed to make his way through to the Upper House, you could not. Didn’t that hurt?

I was deeply hurt on that day. I had made up my mind to go to the Rajya Sabha. Every one, including BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik, had promised to give me a ticket. Due to political compulsion, I was denied a ticket. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjeee had intervened in case of Parida. As he was about to decide on Finance Commission’s allocation to the state, no one wanted to upset him. I did not object for the party’s interest.

You have been the BJD general secretary ever since the party was formed in 1997. Why were you not given a party ticket?

I always had one thing in mind — if I ever contest elections, then it would only be for a Parliamentary seat.

Was it your inefficiency that you could not get a ticket or because you could not lobby for it?

Maybe because I could not lobby for it. I have always been efficient in my work. I have never requested anyone to give me a ticket.

You have devoted nearly 15 years to the party but have always remained low-key. Do you think the party has given you justice?

At times, I do feel the party has not done justice but I don’t let that bother me too much. I have no regrets. I always prefer to remain low key.

You had worked with Biju Patnaik and now, you are working with his son, Naveen. How do you equate both the leaders?

Biju babu was a man of principles. He would always keep his word, come what may. Naveen babu has made many promises but a lot remains to be fulfilled. However, he is working with all his dedication. Biju babu had a big heart.

Does Naveen Patnaik have a big heart too?

See, Naveen babu has not come from amongst the common mass. Biju Patnaik struggled for 27 long years before becoming chief minister for the second time. During this huge gap, he toured Orissa, met people and won their hearts.

BJD’s anti-Centre campaign seems to have lost momentum. Do you think the campaign was just a way to divert public attention from various scams?

No, the campaign is going on throughout the state, in all the blocks. It is yet to pick up in Mayurbhanj district since we do not have any important party functionary there. Only the Parivaar Sampark campaign, whose aim is to connect 84 lakh families of the state, has slowed down a bit. We are trying to bring everyone into the BJD fold.

The BJD has implemented the Rs 2-per kg rice scheme. Don’t you think it has made people lazy?

Of course it has. Several villagers are cursing us for that. There should be campaign to sensitise people that they should do some work instead of sitting idle and playing cards all day long. But the only positive thing about the scheme is that people are not starving any longer.

You are the chairman of the Orissa Seeds Corporation, which is not functioning properly and is riddled with corruption. What are your views?

It is true that corruption is prevailing. I was never interested to become to the chairman of the seeds corporation. But I am coordinating the work with the agriculture minister. I am just trying to give quality seeds to the farmers.

Why doesn’t the party hold regular meetings for all its members?

I agree that there should be more meetings in a year or else the party would become inactive. I am a petty party worker. I alone cannot decide anything on this matter. Meetings will take place only if the leader of the party (Naveen Patnaik) takes a decision to that effect. As per the party constitution, the state council — the highest policy making body — should meet at least once in four months.

When you were in college, you were the leader of the students’ union while your friend Pyari Mohan Mohapatra was like any other student. Now, you are the BJD general secretary and Mohapatra is a Rajya Sabha MP. How do you feel about this?

I am happy for him. He devotes a lot of time to the party and shoulders a great amount of responsibility. However, my commitment has never been less than anybody’s.

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

I was a lawyer by profession and I would have continued to be one. I belonged to the Communist Party of India (CPI), so I could not have become a judge. I gave up law to campaign for Nandini Satpathy and help her win the by-election in 1974. I was always associated with politics since my college days. I was the president of the students’ union of two colleges in Cuttack — Christ College (1962) and Madhusudan Law College (1964-65). I had known Biju babu since then and when I joined the Janata Dal in 1992, he made me the party’s general secretary. And I have been with BJD since its inception.