Daijiworld Media Network (SR)

New Delhi, Jun 1: Always dressed in his trademark pair of white cotton kurta-pyjamas, the newly sworn-in MoS Pratap Chandra Sarangi is known for his frugal lifestyle with a grounded and humble nature, and yet is a rare national leader from Balasore who won by defeating two high-profile candidates in Balasore. Known for his simple lifestyle, the 64-year-old MP from Balasore took oath on Thursday as a Minister of State for MSME and Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries in the newly inducted Modi government.

A few days back, during an interview with TOI he said "My lifestyle has been like this since childhood. It is not going to change with power. I believe in meeting the basic needs of life and working for the people and the country."

By defeating the richest and outgoing MP candidates Rabindra Jena of BJD, as well as Nabajyoti Patnaik, son of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Nirajan Patnaik, Sarangi became MLA twice from Nilgiri in 2004 and 2009.

Attributing his victory to his commitment, integrity and simplicity Sarangi calls himself a footsoldier of Modi. Popularly known as Nana, he is widely admired and built a well-deserved reputation as the state president of Bajrang Dal. He consciously avoided the trappings of power. When his fellow contestants campaigned in SUVs and hired professional campaign managers and election management agencies, Sarangi conducted auto-rickshaw rallies.

He started many Ekal Vidyalayas (village schools with a single local teacher) called Samar Kara Kendra in the interiors of the state in the eighties. These single-teacher schools for students up to Class III or V are run by the educated youth of the concerned villages.

After taking the oath he said “I am fortunate that PM Modi has placed his trust in me and I consider politics as a medium to serve the nation. Our party stands for - nation first, party second and self last. I will try my best to win the trust of Modi ji and common people.”