Odisha Election Results 2024 Live Updates: Naveen Patnaik faces a tough challenge from BJP in Odisha; can he create history? - The Economic Times

Source: Economic Times

Odisha Election 2024 Result Live News Updates: Odisha witnessed simultaneous assembly elections alongside the Lok Sabha polls this year. Following the electoral showdown, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) are asserting their dominance, each claiming to have surpassed the majority mark in the state. Exit polls on the Odisha assembly elections and the Lok Sabha polls have thrown its weight behind the BJP predicting a major upset for BJD.

The Odisha Assembly Election 2024 seeks to elect 147 members to the state Legislative Assembly.

The BJD won 20 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and 12 in 2019 out of 21. With nine members in the Rajya Sabha, it holds considerable influence.

Voters are waiting to see whether Naveen Patnaik of the BJD will be able to secure the post of Odisha's Chief Minister for a record sixth time or the BJP, riding high on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity will be able to achieve its set target of 75 seats.

The Congress party, meanwhile faces a tough challenge to better its performance after disappointing results in the last two elections.

PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh campaigned across the state for the saffron party, while the Congress organized a rally led by the party president Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

Patnaik, who has been struggling with severe health issues due to old age, too campaigned in person and in virtual mode along with his aide VK Pandian.

Modi and Patnaik, known for their longstanding amicable ties, engaged in a verbal exchange after the PM suggested that the Patnaik's health had worsened and hinted at a potential conspiracy.

However, Patnaik, in a strict response, urged the PM to prioritise matters such as revising coal royalties and addressing Odisha's longstanding plea for special status, steering the conversation away from personal remarks.

The Odisha CM is seeking re-election from his traditional Assembly seat of Hinjili as well as the newly chosen Kantabanji constituency.

In its election manifesto, the saffron party highlighted its achievements during its 10-year rule at the Centre, focusing on schemes for farmers and tribals. The BJD manifesto emphasised youth employment, support for the middle class, food security, and agriculture. Meanwhile, the Congress focused on addressing unemployment and called for a socio-economic and caste census.

In the 2019 Assembly elections, BJP made remarkable strides, securing 23 seats, a notable leap from its 10-seat tally in 2014. Congress on the other hand experienced a decline, securing just 9 seats in 2019 and slipping to the third largest party in the state. This was a drop from the 16 seats it held in 2014.