Your journey from Sundargarh to become a Union minister for the second time is a phenomenal one. How do you feel?

(Smiles) I am thankful to Narendra Modiji for having faith in me. Besides working as minister, I also have the responsibility to see how the party organisation can be strengthened in the state. In the coming days, we want to strengthen our base and win more seats. In the last election, we got only one seat (his Sundargarh constituency) and we came second in 10 of 21 Lok Sabha seats.

Why did the party fail miserably here despite a Modi wave sweeping the country?

We failed to organise the required political momentum before the elections. Had the elections in the state been held in the third phase, we would have certainly done better. The Modi wave which gained momentum during electioneering was too early for Odisha (elections to the state were held in the first two phases).

You have headed the party for a long time in the state. There have been allegations that the party could have won more seats if there was proper ticket distribution. Right people were not given the right constituencies.

Yes, I agree to this view to some extent. But, the past is gone. We will have to move forward. We failed to rise to his (Modi’s) expectations. It will not be the same always.

You have been assigned the responsibility of an important ministry. You know people have a lot of expectations from you.

(Pauses) People of the country have put their faith in Narendra Modiji’s leadership. With utmost humility, we will strive hard and will make our best efforts to fulfil the hopes of the people. I have got the same ministry that I had earlier worked with. I am also familiar with the functioning of the ministry and its ethos. We are expecting that the pace of development will be faster under Modiji’s leadership.

Even though the BJP won only one seat in the last Lok Sabha seat, you have been inducted in the ministry. The other Odia, Dharmendra Pradhan, despite representing Rajya Sabha from Bihar, has also been inducted into the ministry. It seems Modi is focusing on Odisha. The question is will the BJP be successful in emerging as a major force in the state?

You must have noticed central ministers making frequent visits to the state and interacting with our party leaders and workers here. They are also discussing current issues with them. It gives a clear indication that the party attaches lot of priority to Odisha.

But how can the BJP be successful when the party itself in the state is a divided house?

I disagree with you. The party is united. There may be some difference of opinion among the leaders. But, once the party takes a decision, all abide by it.

You are one of the few leaders in Odisha who talk straight without diluting the issues. It must be hard for you at times?

What is true and what I feel, I share with all. Why should I be in trouble for talking straight? I am not a hypocrite.

You were opposed to handing over the Khandadhar iron ore mines to any industrial house, including Posco, for its proposed steel project. But your government seems to be in favour of exploring the mines for industrialisation. Now that you are a minister, what’s your stand on the issue?

I am opposed to the proposal of handing over the Khandadhar mines to any industrial house including Posco. I will continue to oppose it.

But one of your cabinet colleagues maintained that Modiji would carry forward all big-ticket projects on a priority basis. For the development of India, the Posco project is needed. All the local matters relating to the mining issue will be solved.

We are not against development. But I want to be specific that the Khandadhar mines should not be handed over to any one. Local people are opposing the move and we have to respect their sentiments. Besides, Khandadhar is a beautiful hill and a stream originates. I just want to share that the Centre has sent back the files to the state government and asked it to review the recommendation once again on giving the Khandadhar mines to Posco.

How will development take place if no mine is given to Posco or for that matter to other industrial houses, which want to set up mineral based industries in the state?

In the name of development, we should not allow illegal work and large-scale displacement of people. It will invite popular anger. We should try to find alternative mines for Posco or make some other arrangements.

Coming to the mining issue, the state BJP has been demanding a CBI probe into the mining scam. This week, Union steel and mines minister Narendra Singh Tomar made it clear that the Narendra Modi government respected the state government’s decision on the vigilance inquiry into the scam. It will respect the federal system. Does it not dampen the party's campaign?

The minister has been misquoted in the media. His intention was not that. Under the federal structure, the Centre wants all states to be stronger and prosper. That does not mean that we will allow corruption. A few people had earlier maintained that Justice MB Shah Commission’s report on the mining scam would not be tabled, but the Modi government has tabled it. After the state government submitted its action taken report, the commissioner still reiterated its recommendation for a CBI probe. Based on that, I have full faith that there will be a CBI probe into the mining issue.

The BJD announced to extend issue-based support to the Modi government at the Centre and that may probably be the reason why the government does not want to antagonise Naveen Patnaik at the moment and wants to go slow on the mining scam.

We welcome anyone who supports us in Parliament. But that does not indicate that we will allow corruption and sit silent on the mining scam. Let us wait ... Let’s not jump to a conclusion.

But there is a public perception that the Naveen Patnaik government is a transparent one. When any illegality is detected, he promptly orders an inquiry. Yesterday, he ordered a crime branch probe into the land scam in Ghangapatna area.

He ordered a crime branch probe after we staged a demonstration near the Raj Bhavan and build pressure on him. We are not satisfied with the crime branch probe. We will continue to demand a CBI probe on the issue. Had he been so honest, he would have ordered a probe immediately after the scam came to the fore. Similarly, you must have noticed how after the CBI took over the money deposit collection scam investigation, the BJD’s patronage to the sham companies have come out.

Coming to the land allotment and plots distributed under discretionary quota, it had come to light that your party colleagues (when they were ministers) favoured a lot of people under the discretionary quota.

Allotment of lands and plots under the discretionary quota is not illegal if the right people get it. But it should be used in the right way. If the BJP people are involved in it, why is Naveen babu hesitating to hand over the case to the CBI?

Despite the fact the Opposition is raising a number of corruption issues against the Naveen Patnaik government, people are still posing their faith on him again and again. Why so?

The Naveen Patnaik government had spent a lot of money in the last elections. Beside, the Congress party was busy with its infighting and the Modi wave reached the state late. It will not be the same in the coming days.

How do you make a claim that you will come to power when the party has no organisational strength?

The rich political experience I have gathered over the years clearly tells me that it will happen. You must be noticing the changed political scenario and the goodwill of the people our government is enjoying.

A number of districts in Odisha have been affected by Maoist activities. A number of political people earlier were also targeted by the rebels. Do you feel there is a threat to your life?

There is always a threat to my life and I have been attacked. But it has not dampened my spirit to work for the people or visit tribal areas.

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

Basically, I am a diploma engineer (electrical). I had worked as assistant foreman with Bharat Electrical Limited (BHEL) before joining the politics. I would have continued there had I not entered politics.