Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik is contesting the Lok Sabha elections 2024 from Puri constituency. The former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, who joined Biju Janata Dal (BJD) after retirement, is pitted against BJP’s heavyweight Sambit Patra.
Hailing from Delang which comes under Puri parliamentary constituency, Patnaik is contesting his second consecutive Lok Sabha election. Patnaik was inducted into BJD in April 2018 by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after three years of his retirement. He made his electoral debut in the 2019 General Elections as a BJD candidate from the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha segment but lost to BJP’s Aparajita Sarangi. Patnaik was also appointed as the Convenor of BJD’s social service wing, ‘Odisha Mo Parivar’, in October 2019. He was also the head of Biju Yuva Vahini from 2018 to 2019.
Apart from being a politician, Patnaik had carved a niche for himself as a straight-laced cop known for his courageous strikes against the underworld dons of Mayanagari Mumbai. Patnaik led critical investigations during the 1992-93 Mumbai communal riots and the 1993 bomb blasts during his tenure in police service. He also served with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), overseeing high-profile cases such as the Harshad Mehta scam. Before retiring as Mumbai Police Commissioner in 2012, Patnaik held key roles as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and Additional Commissioner of Police. His anecdotes of crime investigation and action have inspired many Bollywood movie plots as well.
That’s not all. A recipient of the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Services in 1994, Patnaik was honoured with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2003 for his 36 years of selfless service in the police force.
Most importantly, Patnaik has won the hearts of poor and needy people with his yeoman service towards cancer patients through his Konark Cancer Foundation.
In a telephonic tete-a-tete with Jajati Karan, the Editor-In-Chief of Ommcom News, Patnaik shared his vision and dreams for Puri people if he is voted to power.
Question: Why did you choose to contest from Puri instead of Bhubaneswar this time?
Answer: Contesting elections from a particular seat or place is not in my hands. All decisions regarding the allocation of posts are decided by the party. I was engaged in the BJD’s social service wing ‘Odisha Mo Parivar’ which made the entire Odisha my field of operation. I was marginally involved in the organisational operations and don’t know why I was chosen to contest for the Puri (LS) seat. Yes, since I contested from Bhubaneswar earlier, my all acquaintances and connections are there. But why I was selected or what were the criteria of selection, I am completely unaware of it.
Question: Give us three important reasons why the people of Puri should vote for you?
Answer: It is not a matter of voting for Arup Patnailk, because I am not contesting in my individual capacity but as the candidate of BJD chosen by the Chief Minister. Therefore, what the party has done and the CM done will weigh heavily on the electorate. Of course, the candidate comes next, whether the candidate is a credible fellow possessing the requisite competence, commitment and dedication to being the son of soil or local is completely a different aspect.
For the last five years, they might have seen me doing various social works including helping people during the COVID-19 pandemic, helping cancer patients as per my ability or helping patients struggling to get blood through the BJD’s flagship Jeevan Bindu programme. Of course, my association with the ‘Odisha Mo Parivar’ platform increased the bandwidth of my operations. The party must have observed my sincere dedication towards every responsibility I was given and chosen me on the basis of that. Since I don’t have any business of my own and I am a retired person, all my attention and dedication will be towards the welfare of people.
Question: What is the biggest challenge you are facing during this election as your main opponent Sambit Patra lost with a very narrow margin during the last election?
Answer: Every election is different even I had lost the last election with a narrow margin. Previously the national narrative was different. I was very weak in the electoral process and it’s not about how good you are but how many people know you. I was pretty raw to the electoral process in terms of understanding and a lot of lacunas were there with the process. Unlike an MLA candidate, as an MP candidate, I have to deal with multiple aspects such as I have seven assemblies, MLAs and my approach towards everyone. It is just like a football team one has to build proper rapport with the goalkeeper, centre-forward and other players to win.
Question: If you are elected by the people of Puri this time what are the three major changes you would like to bring in the constituency?
Answer: The whole process of development of Puri depends on the parallel functioning of both party and administration. Any of my claims or showcasing of my achievements will not help to cut any eyes. The idea of the development of Puri is well conceived by the government as it is the jewel of Odisha. Everything in our state revolves around Lord Jagannath and Puri. A well-thought-out comprehensive plan is laid down by the government which not only includes the Parikrama Project but also the making of an international airport. Apart from these, Puri is prone to natural calamities which need to be addressed by developing proper infrastructure.
If I win the elections, I will be in touch with the people and understand their needs as well as try to align my vision with ideas of development drawn by the honourable Chief Minister and our party for proper facilitation of ideas.
Question: What is your biggest strength that you think will help you win this election?
Answer: My strength is my loyalty, integrity and discipline. I have been in a boarding school, for some time. I worked with the State Bank of India where you have to be responsible for minute stuff, followed by the Indian Police Service which taught me discipline. My primary strength is discipline, along with loyalty and integrity; followed by my sense of compassion, and empathy.
Secondly, my strength is my party. The BJD is a well-structured organisation with a stronghold at the grassroots level. Unlike others who are struggling to establish themselves, if the party elects you as a candidate you are looked after, properly guided and your efforts become quite less. If I was an independent candidate things would have been much more difficult.
Question: Lastly, your word on the opposition candidate Dr Sambit Patra, anything good you would like to say about him?
Answer: I don’t know much about him, to be very frank and my entire campaign has been centred around me. Just like our Chief Minister, who doesn’t talk much, I try to follow him and emulate him. Just like sitting in an examination, I will concentrate on writing my paper instead of looking sideways as it doesn’t help rather it has a lot of negative energy. So whatever my opponent is doing, let him do his own thing. Ultimately, the people and the Lord will bless.
