When Naveen Patnaik fifty-one years old, Patnaik, who once ran a boutique in Delhi, had never contested an election or held public office and spoke no Odia. Patnaik wrested absolute control of the BJD and won election after election: he has been elected to the Lok Sabha three times, and as chief minister of Odisha five times. But this winning streak ended in 2024, when the BJP managed to snatch control of the state from the ageing Patnaik. In this book, the veteran journalist, Ruben Banerjee, decodes the success and downfall of the enigmatic politician who stays in the shadows and rarely gives interviews. This is a thrilling story of the rise and fall of an unlikely and seemingly unbeatable politician.

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Customers find the book

well-written with good content and narration. They appreciate the detailed information on Odia politics and the life of Naveen Patnaik. The book provides interesting insights into the political history of Odisha and the soft-spoken chief minister.

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