You have been in politics for the past four decades. But, why did you get embroiled in needless controversies at regular intervals?

To the best of my knowledge, I am one of the senior most among all the living and active politicians in the state. People from all over the state have bestowed their love and affection on me. They have appreciated my stand as well. I have never faced any opposition.

Only people with vested interests oppose me. Many of them have either been defeated by me or lost their credibility in public. Take the example of Bishnu Charan Das (who has demanded Rout's resignation on the issue of the Cuttack mayor's resignation). Despite being in the BJD, he continues to hobnob with other party leaders, who had either been patronised by Pyari Mohan Mohapatra (Rajya Sabha member, who was expelled from the BJD for an alleged attempt to dethrone chief minister Naveen Patnaik) or are now in the Congress. Das also enjoys a good relationship with a top leader of the anti-Posco movement. I have nothing to say on that. But, I don't know why he can't stand me and why he has been demanding my resignation.

BJD's Cuttack-Barabati MLA Debashish Samantaray has also pointed fingers at you following your remarks over Cuttack mayor Anita Behera's resignation. He even called you mentally unstable...

Samantaray is into contractual work business and had an eye on Paradip port town, which falls under my Assembly constituency. At his behest, a big rally was organised in the area during which, four persons were killed in a cracker blast. Though the incident had taken place near Kujanga police station, no case was registered and the main accused is yet to be arrested. If I raise this issue, it will be described as an "anti-party activity".

But, you have not answered my question...

We had reserved the post of the Cuttack mayor for a woman from the scheduled caste community. The councillors had selected Anita. On the issue of ration cards, I have found many irregularities in my own Kujanga block as well. The fault actually lies with the officials. In many cases, the beneficiaries don't even know what has gone wrong. So, it was not Anita's fault. On moral grounds, she should have resigned on her own. But the way Debashish Samantaray hastened her resignation has raised eyebrows.

Did the party take the decision that she should be asked to resign?

I am the party's vice-president. If the party had taken the decision, I would have known. So when journalists sought my opinion on the issue, I gave my views. Is that wrong? I have not said anything against the party line. I just said her resignation was not right, because government officers had made the mistake.

Most of the BJD leaders, particularly the younger ones, are of the view that you are indulging in anti-party activities...

I know how to work in a disciplined way and within the party's framework. I am the only man moving across the state tirelessly to make people aware of the Naveen Patnaik government's success. Can you call this an anti-party activity? I have the ability to explain the success story, but my opponents are experts in carrying fabricated tales to the leader. There is a conspiracy to defame me. All attempts have been made to drag me into controversies and portray me in a poor light.

When several ministers have been targeted with eggs, you have been spared. Your detractors allege that you are instigating people to indulge in all these things...

How can I comment on this? In a democracy, the Opposition's job is to find mistakes in a government. But, hurling of eggs is condemnable. A BJD leader from Jagatsinghpur had instigated Congress leaders to throw eggs at me. I have evidence of that. But, the Congress workers refused to oblige him. It's strange that those who had worked against the party's guidelines are now pointing fingers at me. There is an intelligence wing of the government. They must be having the information how people are being instigated to work against me.

Bishnu Charan Das has described you as the Odisha in charge of the Congress party and also an adviser to the BJP...

(Laughs loudly) Being in the BJD, if I am at all able to work as the in charge of the Congress, I will only be weakening their party. Ultimately, the BJD will gain. Similarly, by remaining in the party if I work as an adviser to the BJP, I will ensure that the BJP cannot even sprout here. Those making such allegations don't deserve to be in politics.

Not only the leaders from your district, even minister Sanjay Das Burma has differences with you...

I know little about him. He was with Bijoy Mohapatra, the known critic of Naveen Patnaik, and is now in the BJP. Later, he, along with a few young MLAs who have now become ministers, switched their loyalties to Pyari Mohan Mohapatra. He suddenly entered the party, and now, he considers himself very powerful. These people continue to oppose me. But, my loyalty is to Naveen Patnaik ever since he has been the founding president of the party. Even during the May 29 episode (the failed attempt to dislodge Naveen), I single-handedly dealt with the attempt and exposed Pyari babu's nefarious and nasty plans.

Your well-wishers as well as your detractors are of the opinion that you are paying the price for not being able to control your tongue and say what comes to your mind without thinking of consequences...

I still remember a meeting with Biju babu. Nalini Mohanty, Srikant Jena and others were at the meeting. A discussion was going on, when I put forth my views suddenly. Biju babu got irritated and asked me to hold my tongue. I quickly reacted saying that "it is the only asset that I have". He burst into laughter and the meeting ended there. And on the issue of paying price, what price are you talking about? Whenever I was ousted from the ministry, it turned out to be a blessing for me. I have been trained by Biju babu. I know that if you are doing good work and your conscience is clear, you need not care for any criticism.

You had also raised your voice and questioned the way the Assembly passed a resolution that Bharat Ratna should be conferred on Biju babu. You had said the suspension of Congress member Naba Kishore Das could have waited.

Biju babu does not belong to any party. He belongs to the state as well as the nation. After a long time, a resolution was brought in the Assembly demanding a Bharat Ratna for him. Both the Opposition and the government chief whip should have sit down together and discussed the matter. The issue was to be taken up for a discussion in the Assembly. But, the issue of Congress MLA Naba Kishore Das's watching pictures on mobile phone inside the House surfaced. The motion to suspend him could have been delayed. In this context, I had said heaven would not have fallen, had the motion (of suspending Das) been delayed by a day or two.

Before the resolution on Biju babu could be taken up in the House, Das was suspended and both the Opposition Congress and the BJP boycotted the Assembly proceedings in protest against his suspension. It did not look decent when the resolution to confer Bharat Ratna on Biju babu was passed by just the BJD members.

Why didn't not you raise the issue with the chief minister?

The chief minister has not asked me anything. Why should I? When the situation demanded, I had done it. I had informed the leadership about Pyari babu's ambition to become the chief minister. When the May 29 incident took place, I was there in the forefront. When the council of ministers was formed, the chief minister did not want to give me anything important - so I decided to maintain a low profile. Whenever the leader asks me, I go and offer my views. Besides, when I have any work, I talk to him.

You represent the Paradip constituency. Now, the BJP is planning to make inroads into the coastal belt through the inauguration of the Indian Oil refinery. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to dedicate the project to the nation on February 6. What's your view on this?

It is a national project and was initiated by Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar, when he had been a minister in the UPA government. Modi is the Prime Minister of the country and not of any party. As the local MLA, I have no problem to extend support to the programme and make it a success. When the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had come to lay the foundation stone, our chief minister had asked me to ensure that there was a good gathering, and accordingly, I did it. But, if the BJP tries to hijack the project to make inroads to the state, they will not be successful.

Both the BJP and the Congress are desperately trying to strengthen their support base in the state. How do you see this?

They do not have any leader in the state to match Naveen. In 2005, I had helped a state BJP leader to get a job in a company. Now, he has properties worth more than Rs 100 core. Dharmendra Pradhan, who is now the Union minister of state for petroleum and natural gas, had even failed to win the Assembly election. He could not go to the Rajya Sabha from Odisha. He became a member of the Upper House from Bihar. On the other hand, the Congress, which has at least 20 to 25 per cent votes at panchayat levels, has failed to project a state leader, who can give a challenge to the BJD.

You are the excise minister, and there is a demand for imposition of prohibition of liquor in the state. What is your view?

Personally, I am against liquor. But, complete prohibition will only facilitate the entry of illicit liquor. Take the example of Gujarat, where there was complete prohibition. But there was a hooch tragedy. I will suggest that an awareness campaign should be launched on the issue.

You had worked with Biju Patnaik. Now, you are working with Naveen. You have closely watched both of them. What is the difference between them?

It is not possible to compare. Biju babu was a statesman, while as a politician, Naveen babu is the most popular leader in the state.

Do you enjoy the chief minister's confidence?

Had I not, I would not have been a minister for several years.