Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, known to be a very reserve person, took everyone by surprise when he along with his elder sister Gita Mehta arrived at a bookstore here on Wednesday evening.
Patnaik’s sudden appearance at the Oxfod bookstore housed in Pal Heights at Jayadev Vihar Square surprised shopkeepers, other buyers and bystanders.
Just a single Personal Security Officer (PSO) was with the CM in the bookshop.
While some people were too awestricken to enter the shop, others were already taking selfies with the CM, which was politely obliged to Patnaik, who asked his PSO to make way and smiled at the cameras.
The bookstore owner said Patnaik bought five classical literature books.
“No one had absolutely any idea that the CM will visit the store like a common man with his sister. First, we were confused to see him in such a manner. He stayed here for a few minutes, then bought some books and left,” said a nearby shopkeeper.
Patnaik himself has authored three books, A Second Paradise: Indian Courtly life 1590–1947, A Desert Kingdom: The People of Bikaner and The Garden of life: An Introduction to the Healing Plants of India.
