Naveen Patnaik, born on October 16, 1946, in Cuttack, Odisha, is a prominent Indian politician and the founder of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
He is the son of the late Biju Patnaik, a revered politician and former Chief Minister of Odisha, and Gyan Patnaik, a pilot.
Naveen Patnaik has been serving as the Chief Minister of Odisha since March 5, 2000, making him one of the longest-serving chief ministers in India.
Patnaik's early education took place at prestigious institutions such as the Welham Boys' School, The Doon School, and Lawrence School, Sanawar.
vHe later obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi. Before entering politics, Patnaik was an author and had written three books.
Despite his family's political background, Patnaik stayed away from active politics until his father's death in 1997.
He entered politics by winning a by-election for the Aska parliamentary seat and subsequently served as the Union Minister of Mines in the cabinet of then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In 1998, he founded the BJD, named after his father.
As Chief Minister, Patnaik is known for his clean image and efforts to combat corruption, which have contributed to his popularity in Odisha.
His leadership has been marked by significant electoral victories for the BJD, including decisive wins in the state legislative assembly and parliamentary elections.
His administration has been recognized for its effective handling of natural disasters, such as the evacuation of nearly a million people during Cyclone Phailin in 2013, for which he received praise from the United Nations.
vUnder his leadership, the BJD has successfully maintained its dominance in Odisha politics, with Patnaik being re-elected multiple times as Chief Minister.
His governance has focused on transparency, development, and welfare programs aimed at improving the lives of Odisha's residents.