Even as Narendra Modi has confidently predicted that "Odisha would spring a miracle in the current general elections", Naveen Patnaik has been trying to stir voters' emotions telling them that he would serve the State "till my last breath".
In fact, 67-year-old Patnaik had never sought to touch people's hearts with such sentimental expression during the last several elections. The question in political circles, therefore, is whether the third-time Chief Minister and BJD big boss is feeling uncertain about his party's repeat performance this time.
What BJP prime minister candidate Modi meant by the "Odisha miracle" is clear that the 14-year-old Patnaik regime would come to an end after this election with the saffron party replacing it. Modi, obviously basing on his own survey report of the first-phase polls to the 70 Assembly constituencies, along with 10 lok Sabha seats, made his "confident" prediction.
Field reports, in fact, suggest a pro-BJP trend in the State entirely owing to the Modi wave, which seems to have unnerved the BJD leadership to a great extent.
Many in the BJD believe that the Modi magic might prompt sections of people to vote in the BJP's favour in the lok Sabha constituencies without affecting the BJD's prospects in Assembly seats. But the question is whether most of such voters could really press the EVM buttons in such a clear-cut manner and whether they would not also prefer the BJP for the State legislature too.
Added to the BJD's disadvantage is the dissidence in the party in the aftermath of the selection of candidates for quite a number of constituencies. While some party leaders are in the fray as Independent candidates, many others dissidents are working behind the scene to defeat the official nominees.
Besides, discriminating political observers notice an anti-incumbency trend in some constituencies despite a general claim that Naveen Patnaik is still the people's favourite, at least for a fourth consecutive term. This is particularly evident from the fact that the film actors Patnaik chose to be BJD candidates or campaigners are no more an attraction among the electorates unlike in the previous polls.
And an overall assessment shows that the Naveen Patnaik craze of 2009 is much subdued this time, indicating a lesser performance of the BJD both in the Assembly and parliament elections.