Bhubaneswar, Sep 13 (IANS): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday said people's representatives must lead by example in public life.

"The most significant point for a people's representative is that he/she must lead by example. Simplicity should be at the core of our public behaviour. Leading a simple life can help us connect to people," Patnaik said.

Patnaik was addressing a two-day orientation programme for members of the 16th Odisha Legislative Assembly. It was organised by the Assembly in collaboration with the Lok Sabha Secretariat.

Speaker Surya Narayan Patro, Leader of Opposition Pradipta Kumar Naik and other leaders were present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister said that legislators must not forget democratic decency while exercising their right of democratic dissent.

"Raising issues of public importance is a basic norm of our democracy. Democratic dissent is a right. However, while exercising this right, legislators must not forget democratic decency. Under no circumstances, democratic dissent should cast a shadow on democratic decency.

"A country of many diversities, Indian democracy continues to get stronger by each passing year. The roots of our successful democracy lie in our people and their unflinching faith in democratic values. They are the real masters in a democracy," Patnaik said.

He hoped that every elected representative would understand this.

"In whatever position you may be, the people are supreme. Therefore, elected representatives should keep the common people at the centre of all their initiatives," he added.

As the primary function of the leaders is to make laws, he said that an appetite for information and education on legislative procedures and understanding of socio-economic issues and policies will certainly help them.

The Chief Minister said that the legislators should also endeavour to bring the Acts and policies to the public domain so that people can be real partners in the process of change.