Chief Minister Rides In Tata Nano Owned And Driven By Deputy Chief Minister: Video Goes Viral

We have always said that a politician is a person who serves the country or the people of the nation. Politicians were once considered individuals who often led very humble lifestyles. However, over time, things have changed, and most politicians now enjoy a lavish lifestyle. We often see them traveling in premium cars and SUVs in their motorcades. However, we have now come across a video where Odisha’s Chief Minister is seen traveling in a Tata Nano driven by the Deputy Chief Minister.

The video, shared by the Press Trust of India, has gone viral, and thousands of social media users have watched it. In this video, we see Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi walking towards a yellow Tata Nano hatchback. Like any politician or leader, his security personnel can be seen around him.

Mr. Majhi is accompanied by the Deputy Chief Minister, and we see both of them getting into the Nano. Usually, ministers sit in the rear seat of official cars as most of them have an assigned driver. However, in this case, we see the Deputy Chief Minister, Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, and the Chief Minister getting into the front seats of the Tata Nano.

Mr. Majhi sits in the co-driver’s seat while Mr. Deo drives the car. One of the security officers jumps into the rear seat of the car for security reasons. Both leaders have a quick conversation with media personnel before the car starts moving. This is the manual version of the Tata Nano, and the Deputy Chief Minister even stalls the car once in the video.

The video is going viral because it is probably the first time we have seen a politician—let alone the Chief Minister of a state—travel in a car like the Tata Nano. Unlike modern day Tata cars, Nano was not a successful model for the brand. It was in fact a flop as many people didn’t like the fact that the brand marketed the Nano as the cheapest car in the world.

However, this is not the only instance of a politician using a modest car. Last year, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu arrived at the State Assembly in his Maruti Suzuki Alto to present the 2024-25 budget.

Most politicians in India now own or use expensive cars as their official vehicles. For example, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, popularly known as M.K. Stalin, owns a Land Rover Defender, which he bought in a white shade. Not just M.K. Stalin, but we also have politicians who own expensive and exotic cars like Rolls Royce and Ferrari.

MTB Nagaraj, a prominent figure in Karnataka politics, owns cars like the Rolls Royce Phantom VIII, Ferrari F8 Tributo, Land Rover Defender, Bentley Continental GT, Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, and more. Another example is Maharashtra’s former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who bought a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 luxury SUV worth over ₹2 crore (ex-showroom).

In times like these, it is indeed surprising to see the Chief Minister of a state traveling in a humble car. Gone are the days when politicians used to travel in Ambassadors and Contessas. Now, most of them use expensive cars manufactured by foreign brands.