BERHAMPUR : Unperturbed by the major road accident from which he escaped narrowly with minor injuries on Sunday, the BJD supremo and Orissa Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik was back into whirlwind election campaigning for panchayat polls.

Since Monday evening he was on a one-and-half day visit to his home district, Ganjam to campaign. His motorcade rushed at blinding speed forgetting the accident it had faced at Tomando near Bhubaneswar on Sunday.

Mr Patnaik covered a distance of more than 400 kilometers in rural areas of Ganjam district since Monday evening.

During this short time span he dashed through Hinjli and Purushottampur blocks under his own constituency Hinjli as well as other blocks like Rangeilunda, Kukudakhandi, Ganjam, Aska, Shergarh and Kavisuryanagar.

At all meetings Mr. Patnaik tried to make people remember the efforts of his father, Biju Patnaik in implementing panchyati raj in Orissa and providing reservation for women in it.

"Biju's dream can only come true if you vote for BJD candidates," he said.

On Tuesday he managed to attend more than 25 small meetings during his tour, which speaks of his stamina and mental strength, said Pradeep Panigrahy a BJD leader of Ganjam district.

All BJD candidates seemed to be cashing on his personality and image as even the sarpanch candidates who are not fighting on party symbols were in hurry at every meeting to be seen in his company. Sukanti Sahu, former Congress vice-chairperson of Kukudakhandi block, who joined the BJD in the presence of Mr. patnaik at Ankushpur said, this hectic visit of Mr Patnaik proves his love for Ganjam district although people would have voted for the BJD candidates even without his campaign.

State Cabinet Minister, Suryanarayan Patro and BJD MP of Bhubaneswar, Prasanna Patsani accompanied the Chief Minister during his hurried campaign tour. Mr Patsani's poems and witty satires provided entertainment to audience at village gatherings.

At times he quipped: "The BJD and Naveen can be sure of wins in any election till J.B. Patnaik happens to be leader of the Congress in the state!" drawing much laughter from newsmen and common people.

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