On Thursday, as the results of the general elections across India have put the BJP on a pedestal way beyond the reach of any other party, even its own allies, the story is different in Odisha.
In Odisha, the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) looks all set to win the mandate hands down and form the government for a fifth straight term. BJD is leading on 112 seats out of the state’s 146 seats. Naveen Patnaik is leading from both Bijepur and his home turf Hinjili.
Election to one seat was cancelled following the death of a candidate.
The BJP might be the main opposition party as it leads on 21 seats while Congress is leading on 11 seats. The BJP has 10 seats in the outgoing House while Congress, which was the main opposition to the BJD since the 2000 elections, has 16 MLAs in the outgoing assembly. CPI-M and JMM are leading in one constituency each.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar said that out of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the BJD was leading in 16 Lok Sabha seats while the BJP was leading in five, including Bargarh, Sundargarh, Bolangir, Kalahandi and Bhubaneswar.
State Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik is trailing BJD candidates in both Ghasipura and Bhandaripokhari assembly segments while BJP legislature party leader KV Singhdeo is also trailing BJD’s Saroj Kumar Meher in Patnagarh assembly seat.
Elections for the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha were held across four phases, from April 11 to 29 while simultaneous elections were held for the Odisha Assembly.
In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Biju Janata Dal had swept the polls by winning 20 out of the 21 seats.
(With Agency inputs)