BJD-BJP defy incumbency

MANDATE 2004

In an election that has seen incumbent governments, both at the Centre and in states, bite the dust, the ruling Biju Janata Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance has managed to pull off a miracle of sorts by holding on to its preeminent position in Orissa.

Among the factors that helped the ruling alliance retain its position, Chief Minister and BJD supremo Navin Patnaik's squeaky clean image was certainly the most important.

His drive against corruption during the four years he was in power clearly struck a chord with the electorate. The fact that his principal challenger was JB Patnaik, whose 14-year rule as Chief Minister was not exactly known for probity, certainly helped.

But what helped Navin more was his successful branding of the Congress as a 'corruption club' after a number of prominent former leaders of BJD, who were expelled from the party by him on charges of corruption, joined the Congress on the eve of the election and were immediately given tickets.

His constant harping on nepotism in the Congress ranks rang true in the minds of the voters, especially with Pradesh Congress Committee president JB Patnaik's wife, son-in-law and the latter's elder brother getting party tickets.

Although Navin failed to get many big projects for the state from the National Democratic Alliance government, of which his party was a part, he did tone up the relief administration.

Rehabilitation work in areas ravaged by the super cyclone of 1999 really gained momentum after his coming to power.

He also brought substantial central funds after the heavy floods of 2001 and the severe drought of 2002 and -- more importantly -- got a chronically lethargic bureaucracy to ensure that help reached the poor.

As he himself said in his first reaction after the results started trickling in, the remarkably calm law and order situation in the state was a big factor in this win.

It is to Navin's credit, who also happened to be the home minister in the outgoing government, that he gave reasonable autonomy to the police force and scrupulously prevented its politicisation.