Empowerment of women is the empowerment of the nation. No household, no society, no state, no country has ever moved forward without empowering its women.

Federalism is an intrinsic part of our constitutional set-up.

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 Beatles were here in the 1960s, with their wives, at the Maharshi's ashram. And they wanted my advice on various matters in India.

I think everyone should be concerned about people's sensitivities and feelings.

Healthy Odisha - Happy Odisha. Let us continue our endeavour to build a prosperous and strong state.

During the launch of the 'Ama Gaon, Ama Bikash' scheme, I directly spoke to women representatives from the interior villages of Sambalpur and Narayanpatna. From the way the women explained the issues pertaining to their villages and their collective needs, I understood that women empowerment has reached even the grassroots of the democratic setup.

The women of Odisha will lead the way in women empowerment in India.

As far as reading is concerned, I like historical and political books and works of art.

Odisha faces natural calamities almost every year. The assistance we get from the Centre is mostly for temporary restoration of infrastructure. We have to spend a lot from state's own funds to work for the long-term. This puts too much stress on our finances. Precisely for this reason, Odisha should be considered for special category status.

I get maximum satisfaction in seeing the happiness of poor people.

International carriers need to be given greater role in our skies on all routes like several other large countries to make our aviation industry more efficient and competitive and prevent arbitrary pricing by monopolies.

Odisha is a peaceful state; the people will not stand for violence in a democracy.

I am committed and content to work for the people of Odisha. I have no national ambitions whatsoever.

We've always tried to run a transparent and honest government.

The opposition leaders are opportunistic seasonal birds. Where were they when Cyclone Phailin, Hudhud, Titli, and even drought hit Odisha? Now it's election time, they are swarming Odisha to seek votes.

I know people voted for me only in my father's name.

I think regional parties are very important if they fulfil regional aspirations.

My health has never been an issue.

I may be inexperienced, but at least I come with a clean heart and a clean slate.

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.

I trust the people of Odisha.

My main aim is poverty reduction in the state.

We knew that Father was loved in Orissa. But the ocean of emotion that greeted us on his death was an eye-opener.

The four and half crore of people in Odisha are my family, and I will serve them till the last breath.

I am quite fluent in Odiya. I understand the people of Odisha, and they understand me.

Biju Babu lives in the hearts of millions of Oriyas. Our party has been named after him. People expect us to carry forward the unfinished task that Biju Babu has left for us.

I believe that investment in sports is investment in youth. And that, in turn, is investment in the future.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the people of Bijepur Assembly constituency for having showered their blessings on the BJD.

History will remember the UPA-II government for its numerous scandals, scams, and corruption, probably the maximum number ever.

The aim of my government is to set up an industrial park at Dhamra. It will bring more investments to the state.

My father was against nepotism.

I am happy to announce that to provide remunerative price to millets-growing farmers and to improve the nutritional security, state government will procure millets and utilize them in government schemes.

I thought my father served the people of Orissa, and I thought I would continue that to some extent.

People of our State know the commitment and sincerity with which my Government deals with issues concerning the State, including Left wing extremism.

I think of Mr Modi as a very hard-working person.

I have inherited my father's responsibilities, not privileges. One of the members of his family had to continue his legacy of social responsibility.

Dhamra Port is a model of modern maritime trade in Odisha and a successful example of public-private partnership.

When I took over in 2000, Odisha was in a terrible financial state due to various policies, some of them unpopular.

I do think a healthy opposition is very necessary in a democracy.

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.

We are a regional party, and our interests are for the people of Odisha.

We prefer to be isolated in Odisha. That is a policy of equidistance, and going it alone has served us well in the past.

My interest as a regional party is to support, or try and support, whichever party fulfils the aspirations of Odisha.

Modi doesn't seem to be interested in Odisha. I certainly feel that.

Vajpayee had a much bigger stature than Mr Modi. He knew how to run a coalition government very successfully.

In Odisha, we have concentrated on people and their development. We hope to take Odisha to new heights.

The government of Odisha believes in constructive cooperation with the Centre.

I really don't think of power. I think more of service to the people of my state.

I had no great love for the trappings of power.