BJP's Sunrise In Odisha

The rise of BJP in panchayat polls has delivered a severe blow to both BJD and Congress in the state. BJP has encashed Odisha election success to influence voters in UP and celebrated Vijaya Divas across the state on February 25th only to galvanize the party rank and file for the bigger battle of 2019 assembly and general elections.

- Sudarshan Chhotoray

The unprecedented electoral victory of BJP in Odisha’s local body elections has changed the political equation in the state. BJP has become the No 2, political force in Odisha, replacing the grand old party of the country, the Congress, which till recently was the main opposition party in the state. Not only this, for the first time after 17 years, it has posed a formidable challenge to Naveen Patnaik-led BJD party and its government. Naveen Patnaik, who is continuing in his fourth term as a Chief Minister, has never faced such electoral debacle as he is witnessing today in just concluded three-tier panchayati raj elections. Though BJD has maintained its No. 1 status by winning maximum number of seats in zilla parishad, it has lost more than 180 seats in comparison 2012 panchayat elections. The trends of this election show that ruling BJD is slowly losing ground. Except its predominant position in coastal areas of the state, Naveen has suffered a severe setback in western Odisha districts and in south and north Odisha districts. While BJD has been able to form zilla parishads in 16 out of 30 districts (in 2012 it had formed zilla parishads in 28 districts), BJP has got majority in 8 districts ( earlier it had none) and Congress has won only one district (it had 2 in 2012) but has become single largest party in two other districts.