Berhampur, July 4: A simple Odia lunch served to BJP president Amit Shah in the home district of chief minister Naveen Patnaik was enough to stir the political cauldron in the state.

Shah used the lunch diplomacy at the Hugulapata home of Odisha chief minister's namesake Naveen Swain, 38, a labourer who sells fast food in the evening, to firm up the BJP's political existence at the booth-level across the state.

However for Naveen and his wife Sudeshna politics was the last thing on their mind. The 30 minutes that BJP president Shah, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, state BJP president Basant Panda, BJP Legislature Party leader K.V. Singh Deo and BJP state in-charge Arun Singh spent in their house, which is 13km from here, the limelight was on Naveen as flash bulbs of photographers kept lighting up the small room where the lunch was served.

The menu for the lunch was simple - arua rice, 'Kandula' daal, ladies' finger fries, saga bhaja (spinach fry) and mixed fry of potala (pointed gourd), beans and cauliflower with kheer (a sweet dish that is served on banana leaves).

The menu special and not the usual fare the Swains have everyday. "We usually eat rice and some curry for lunch and rice, charu (a watery preparation with a dash of tamarind) and fries at night. But today, we cooked special meal for our guests. We are thrilled that a national leader like Amit Shah had lunch in our house," he said.

It was not easy for the poor labourer to arrange for the lunch that they served to the BJP leaders today. Naveen and Sudeshna had shopped for the groceries without any financial assistance from the BJP. The couple had to take the help of relatives and neighbours to welcome the leaders and serve them the food they could afford.

"We did not have adequate utensils to serve food to all of the leaders. We had to borrow them from our neighbours," said Naveen.

Sudeshna was happy with her effort as the BJP president appreciated her cooking skills. He had a special word of appreciation for the kheer that she had prepared for the leaders.

Though happy with the "rare privilege" and attention they got today, in response to a query Naveen said: "Amitji did not give us anything as a mark of his appreciation."

BJP leaders had earlier hinted that Shah would have lunch at the house of a Dalit, but later settled for Naveen who belongs to one of the economically backward castes.

Naveen, who lives with his wife Sudeshna, father Benu Swain, 85, and sons Krushna, 13, Sai Ram, 10, and Durga, 8, has a tough job running the big family. The family gas connection, but no electricity. Shah's visit not only brought the flicker of flash bulbs to Naveen's house, but also temporary electric connection that disappeared after the BJP leaders left the village.

Shah and the state BJP top brass were there to take part in the party's " Mo booth, sabuthu majbhut" programme aimed at establishing direct contact with the people. Hugulapata was specially chosen for Shah's visit for its political significance. The village falls in the Kukudakhandi block of Gopalpur Assembly constituency in Ganjam, which is also the home district of the chief minister.

Shah and the BJP might have scored a political point by having lunch at Naveen's house, but the visit has not changed the poor man's life. From tomorrow, Naveen will return to his daytime job of a labourer and sell fast food on the verandah of his home in the evening to supplement his income.

"I have not received any help from the state government since the Phailin," said Naveen, who claims to have an annual income of Rs 7,000.

"My wife got a ration card recently. We have not benefited from any central or state-sponsored scheme," he added and clarified that he was not a member of BJP, but liked the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He had attended a BJP rally in Berhampur a few days ago.

As part of his outreach programme, Shah also visited the houses of five other villagers and inquired about their social and financial condition.

All through visit, one platoon of police force led by SDPO Aska Subash Chandra Panda kept vigil.