Riding on a strong wave of anti-incumbency against the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government and bolstered by the Narendra Modi effect, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made history in Odisha on Tuesday, successfully breaching the longstanding stronghold of the BJD.
Winning 78 seats in the 147-member state Assembly, the BJP is poised to form the government in Odisha independently for the first time. Meanwhile, the BJD secured 51 seats, and the Congress managed only 14 seats in the Assembly elections, which were conducted alongside the Lok Sabha elections in four phases from May 13 to June 1.
It is noteworthy that the BJP had previously governed Odisha in coalition with the BJD in 2000 and 2004. However, this time, the party has single-handedly ended Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's 24-year tenure.
According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP's vote share in Odisha surged to 40.01 percent this time, up from 32.49 percent in 2019. The BJP had won just 23 seats in 2019.
The electorate of Odisha evidently voted for a change after 25 years of BJD rule in the state.
The BJP also achieved a significant victory in the Lok Sabha polls, winning 19 out of the 21 seats in Odisha.
"Thank you Odisha! It’s a resounding victory for good governance and celebrating Odisha’s unique culture. BJP will leave no stone unturned in fulfilling the dreams of the people and taking Odisha to new heights of progress. I am very proud of all our hardworking party karyakartas for their efforts,” PM Modi said in a post on X on Tuesday.
Naveen Patnaik extended his congratulations to all the victorious candidates in both the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
"My best wishes to all the winning candidates irrespective of their party affiliations. I express my respect and gratitude to all the workers and leaders of Biju Janata Dal for their dedicated efforts and sacrifice," Patnaik posted on X.
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