Born to father late Raj Raj Singh Deo and grandson of former Chief Minister late Maharaja Rajendra Narayan Singh Deo, a scion of the royal household of the erstwhile Princely State of Patnagarh, Maharaja Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo is a king by birth and a servitor of people by choice. He opened his innings to the Odisha legislative Assembly from the Patnagarh constituency on a BJP ticket in 1995. He was a Cabinet Minister of Industries and Public Enterprise from 2000 to 2004; and from 2004 to 2009, he made his mark as a Cabinet Minister for Urban Development and Public Enterprise under Naveen Patnaik until Patnaik’s BJD broke its ties with the National Democratic Alliance in 2009. He was also the BJP State president for quite some time. Gifted with a suave manners and brilliant repartee, Singh Deo is a sportsman and a lover of flora and fauna committed to protecting wildlife. He spends his time profitably by mixing and mingling with the suffering and the downtrodden people of Balangir district and keeps his boredom at bay by listening to music. He has also extensively travelled abroad by visiting countries like Nepal, Italy, France, Russia, Hungry, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Austria, the UK, Spain, Switzerland and the Philippines. A potentially powerful BJP leader of the State, loved, respected and admired by a large chunk of BJP workers, Singh Deo spoke to Sugyan Choudhury from the BJP headquarters at Bhubaneswar while giving an interview to The Pioneer.

Do you think that your party will come to power in the forthcoming 2019 electionsIJ

I would like to tell you that our national president Amit Shahji has made it amply clear that the BJP would be obtaining hundred and twenty six seats in Odisha in the forthcoming general elections.

In the elections, the BJP will have to wage a tough fight with the BJD. In that case, is your party going to have any alliance with the Congress or any other partyIJ

You see, our party president Amit Shahji has made it clear that in the elections in Odisha, our party is not going to enter into any alliance with either any national or regional party.

Do you think that all dissensions, squabbles in your party are over for the next electionIJ

There are no dissentions or squabbles within our party. It is the creation of media, which wants to create an internal divide within the BJP with the sole intention of helping the ruling BJD.

Surveying the post-demonetisation scenario, some economists and opposition parties’ leaders are expressing concern that the GDP rate of the nation has gone down. What is your considered opinion on this syndromeIJ

If you look to the recent observations of Modiji, he has said that the process of demonetisation will help the country in the long run. Whenever a decision is taken, a hard decision is taken; we may lose instantly but in the long run it is going to be rewarding.  This is probably for this reason that there may be a slight slump, but in the long run this will catapult the economy of the nation to a higher growth trajectory.

Your Government at the Centre has imposed GST even on print media which is threatened considerably. What is your response to thisIJ

The Government of India is trying to help the people from time to time by imposing certain economic measures. The price slabs of certain essential commodities have come down to suit to the needs of the people after introduction of the GST. Media has certain role for the society; they are the fourth estate engaged in the task of nation building. To say that the media be not under the purview of GST is not correct.

There was a lot of hue and cry by the BJP to corner the BJD on a recent gruesome murder case at Chhatrapur. But there is a tale-tell silence now by both the parties. Was there any understanding reached between the two parties over the issueIJ

There is no political understanding between the BJP and the BJD. We are taking issues on a day-to-day basis. Many happenings are taking place; and we are to take up these issues, That is why we can’t inordinately sit over an issue for a longer time.

Many political observers opine that the BJP is using the CBI against the BJD to settle its political scores. How do you react to this opinionIJ

The CBI is an independent body. The BJP cannot use the CBI against anyone for settling political scores. But tell me why the BJD leaders are so scared if their people are not involved in scamsIJ What prevents the State Government to take action against their people who are involved in mining scams, chit fund scams, etc., etc.IJ The CBI has to get an order from the court to investigate into the matter. But when the investigation and inquiry is on, they say it is political witch-hunting. Why do the BJD leaders find ghost everywhere!  

The BJP had promised a uniform code of conduct for all the citizens of the country in case it came to power. Is that really going to happenIJ

Well, I am not a part of the Central Government. But as far as I know, steps are being taken in this regard at the national level. There are debates, discussions going on to bring about a consensus among all political parties for effecting necessary changes in law in order to achieve this goal.

 Political observers believe that you have a greater stake to don the mantle of Chief Minister of the State in case the BJP comes to power in the forthcoming election. How far is it trueIJ

My response to your query is that whatever the responsibility the party has given to me in past, I have accepted the same and discharged my responsibilities in real earnest. It depends upon the party to decide who they are going to choose to lead the people of Odisha in future.