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.

One should do what is good for the country.

I was never in politics before I contested the Lok Sabha by-elections after my father's death.

To empower the women in rural areas, we have started something called Mission Shakti.

The love and affection of the people of Odisha continues to inspire me every day.

Dynastic rule is when you are groomed to succeed. My father never groomed me to take over.

What I want is peaceful industrialisation.

The Union government can do a lot more for poor states like Orissa.

I can tolerate anything but corruption and nepotism.

Democracy should not work on the basis of personalities.

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.

Sometimes the energy of the crowd also catches on to you.

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.

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.

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.

If you succeed in doing something good for the people, it gives you a great sense of satisfaction.

Personally, I have never considered myself corrupt or seen the need to be so. People are judged as what they are perceived to be.

I think it is commonplace for parties to change candidates and reshuffle ministries to bring in new faces.

I think political parties can be funded in a perfectly rational way without being corrupt.

The people of Orissa had unmatched love and respect for Bijubabu. There is no way that you can wish away his legacy.