The JD, as a party, is dead.
— Naveen Patnaik
I think it is commonplace for parties to change candidates and reshuffle ministries to bring in new faces.
The people of Gujarat were always more prosperous than most other states. It is the people of Gujarat who should be given credit for the development of Gujarat.
In the past, due to faulty economic policies like freight equalisation, resource-rich states like Odisha have suffered from the discriminatory policies of the Centre.
Vajpayeeji's time was a time of mutual respect and understanding, irrespective of how small or big a party you are. In fact, Vajpayeeji's handling of a coalition is something of a benchmark in world politics.
The Union government can do a lot more for poor states like Orissa.
My father was against nepotism.
Federalism is an intrinsic part of our constitutional set-up.
I know people voted for me only in my father's name.
As far as reading is concerned, I like historical and political books and works of art.
I think regional parties are very important if they fulfil regional aspirations.
I thought my father served the people of Orissa, and I thought I would continue that to some extent.
In Odisha, we have concentrated on people and their development. We hope to take Odisha to new heights.
Modi doesn't seem to be interested in Odisha. I certainly feel that.
We prefer to be isolated in Odisha. That is a policy of equidistance, and going it alone has served us well in the past.
I do think a healthy opposition is very necessary in a democracy.
There is a great deal of reward when you do good work and people see how successful that work is and the happiness it brings to them.
The people of Orissa had unmatched love and respect for Bijubabu. There is no way that you can wish away his legacy.
Personally, I have never considered myself corrupt or seen the need to be so. People are judged as what they are perceived to be.
History will remember the UPA-II government for its numerous scandals, scams, and corruption, probably the maximum number ever.
Sometimes the energy of the crowd also catches on to you.
Democracy should not work on the basis of personalities.
What I want is peaceful industrialisation.
I have inherited my father's responsibilities, not privileges. One of the members of his family had to continue his legacy of social responsibility.
The love and affection of the people of Odisha continues to inspire me every day.
Why do politicians and bureaucrats get salaries and perks from the pockets of the poor and do nothing for them? So I took action against the corrupt and the lazy.
One should do what is good for the country.
I had no great love for the trappings of power.
The Beatles were here in the 1960s, with their wives, at the Maharshi's ashram. And they wanted my advice on various matters in India.
My main aim is poverty reduction in the state.
My interest as a regional party is to support, or try and support, whichever party fulfils the aspirations of Odisha.
We are a regional party, and our interests are for the people of Odisha.
I think everyone should be concerned about people's sensitivities and feelings.
I think political parties can be funded in a perfectly rational way without being corrupt.
If you succeed in doing something good for the people, it gives you a great sense of satisfaction.
I don't have a problem with the Centre sanctioning funds to any state. However, when this is done for narrow political considerations, it damages the federal fabric mandated by the Constitution.
I am committed and content to work for the people of Odisha. I have no national ambitions whatsoever.
I can tolerate anything but corruption and nepotism.
Dynastic rule is when you are groomed to succeed. My father never groomed me to take over.
I trust the people of Odisha.
To empower the women in rural areas, we have started something called Mission Shakti.
I was never in politics before I contested the Lok Sabha by-elections after my father's death.
My health has never been an issue.
I really don't think of power. I think more of service to the people of my state.
The government of Odisha believes in constructive cooperation with the Centre.
Vajpayee had a much bigger stature than Mr Modi. He knew how to run a coalition government very successfully.
I am quite fluent in Odiya. I understand the people of Odisha, and they understand me.
As far as natural calamities are concerned, Odisha had a very bad reputation before 2000 when we took over the government. After that, we have achieved international standards as far as controlling the effects of natural calamities. In fact, even the United Nations have complimented us on this.
When I took over in 2000, Odisha was in a terrible financial state due to various policies, some of them unpopular.
