One shower can make rural roads slippery and one miscalculation can allow Congress-supported CPI candidate an upper hand. Patnaik is aware and is treading very cautiously in Aska from where he is seeking reelection for the third consecutive time.

Though he is the sole claim to fame of this otherwise little known constituency, it is not going to be a cake walk for Patnaik this time round. His road to victory is full of pitfalls. Though there are four candidates in the fray, it's essentially a straight fight between Patnaik and Dutikrushna Panda of CPI. The strategic decision of the ruling Congress not to field a candidate and back the CPI instead has made the situation doubly critical for the BJP chief.

As it is, Aska is notorious for not remaining faithful to any political party. It was here (erstwhile Bhanjanagar) that Dutikrushna Panda had defeatedNaveen's father Biju Patnaik in 1971. Since then Aska has elected Congress nominees thrice, Janata Dal twice, Lok Dal, Janata Party and BJD once each. The Congress has had nearly 40 per cent votes in this constituency. The CPI has some pockets of influence like Kabisurya Nagar, Aska and Sorada.

What makes Naveen Patnaik jittery is the possibility of the consolidation of CPI and Congress votes in the name of secularism. Naveen's socialite status and his reputation as an author cuts no ice with the rural voters of Aska. Even the fact that he had done a cameo role in a famous Hollywood film The Deceiver has no special meaning here. What, however, cuts ice here is his apparent concern for the constituency.

Also to Naveen's advantage is the pro-Vajpayee wave that appears to be sweeping through the state in general. Moreover, traces of sympathy for his legendary father and his own enviable record as a member of Parliament for the past two years hold voters in his grip.

"He is one among us and moreimportantly he's been seen with us," says one Ramesh Sahu of the village Chandanpur in Kodala assembly segment.

Ever since he won the by-election in 1997, Naveen has visited Aska as many as 100 times. He has also attempted to remove the main local grievances of drinking water scarcity, poor medical facilities. Tubewells have been sunk and rigs have been employed for exploratory purposes. With Nalco's social development fund of Rs 69 lakh, hospitals and ambulances have been provided in the constituency.

Naveen Patnaik's concern for his poor electorate is fetching dividends. As he crisscrosses Aska, passers-by await patiently with folded hands in silent reverence for the `prince'. He tries hard to speak to them with the four Oriya sentences he has mugged up during the last two years of his political life. He parrots the same lines at all public meetings He, however, winds up his address saying, "Give me some more time to learn Oriya."

But winning hearts and getting votes are two different ball games.Nagging doubts still persist as to whether Naveen would win. Traditional Congress votes could still be the undoing.

"There is nothing to worry. Every thing is under control," says Naveen in between rushing from one corner of Aska to another. But behind this steely facade lies a jittery soul. In private conversation, he constantly seeks feedback from his aides as to how the going is.