Governance Marked a Dramatic Shift

With the change in government, 2024 showcased Odisha as a battleground for competing political visions.

- HEMANT KUMAR ROUT @Bhubaneswar

Both BJD and BJP prioritised welfare and infrastructure amid the tussle over scheme ownership, reflecting deeper divides.

The governance saw a dramatic political narrative marked by the transition of power from BJD to BJP. This shift resulted in the rolling out of new cash transfer schemes and renaming of flagship welfare programmes, sparking debates on continuity versus political rebranding.

The previous BJD government had launched a plethora of new initiatives and poll sops to the tune of more than ₹30,000 crore in the run-up to the Assembly and general elections in May-June. From the ₹6,255.94 crore Bhubaneswar Metro Rail Project to the ₹4,000 crore integrated irrigation project in Malkangiri and the Nua-O scholarship for students to the ₹1 lakh interest-free loan through 'SWAYAM', it tried to woo people from different sections of society in the last quarter of the last financial year.