BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik has earned the distinction of being the longest-serving Chief Minister of Odisha followed by Janaki Ballabh Patnaik of the Congress.
Naveen Patnaik became the Chief Minister on March 5, 2000. On August 23, he completed 4,906 days in office levelling the tenure of ex-Chief Minister JB Patnaik. And on Saturday August 24, Naveen Patnaik will surpass the record of JB Patnaik.
JB Patnaik had become the Chief Minister on June 9, 1980 and continued till December 17, 1999 with two breaks.
However, Naveen did a hat-trick becoming the Chief Minister of consecutively for three terms without any break.