Naveen Zindabad, Pyari Murdabad

BHUBANESWAR: Naveen Nivas, residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, witnessed hectic activities from the small hours of Thursday.Leaders of the ruling BJD started making a beeline for the Chief Minister’s residence from early morning not only to show solidarity but also give a fitting reply to party ideologue Pyarimohan Mohaptra who attempted a failed coup on Tuesday.The BJD leaders had to wait anxiously for the arrival of the Chief Minister who cut short his trip to the UK and reached New Delhi on Wednesday night. As news spread that he would be reaching here by the evening  flight, Naveen’s supporters started pouring in at his residence from the afternoon.The airport road leading to Naveen Nivas was chock-a-block with vehicles on both sides. Police had a tough time to handle the traffic. As the time of the arrival of Chief Minister’s flight drew closure, police blocked the airport road  from Forest Park side to regulate the traffic.Soon after his arrival at Biju Patnaik Airport, Naveen was given a rousing welcome by ministers, MLAs and supporters in a public show of strength to dispel impression about cracks in the ruling BJD.Some BJD supporters burnt the effigies of Pyari and three ministers __ Sarada Prasad Nayak, Anjali Behera and Sanjeeb Sahoo __ and Deputy Speaker Sananda Marandi near Naveen Nivas.Naveen was greeted by ministers Prafulla Ghadei, Raghunath Mohanty and Debi Prasad Mishra among others and leaders with bouquets and garlands.A large number of partymen, carrying placards and banners, stormed the airport premises breaking the security cordon and shouted ‘Naveen Patnaik Zindabad’ and ‘Pyarimohan Murdabad’.The Chief Minister waved to the people before setting out in a huge procession to his residence amidst beating of drums and bursting of crackers. It almost took two hours for the procession to reach Naveen Nivas.Mediapersons waiting outside Naveen Nivas had to elbow their way to enter inside. The security guards were on their toes to handle the crowd who attempted to enter Naveen Nivas to greet the Chief Minister.