Setback for Naveen with BJD's first loss since 2009

In Odisha, BJP’s Surya-banshi Suraj retainedthe Dhamnagar seat that was last held by his late father Bishnu Charan Sethi by eroding BJD’s vote share further from 45% in 2019 to 43%.

BJD’s first bypoll loss since 2009 is seen as a setback for chief minister Naveen ahead of next month’s Padampur bypoll and the 2024 state elections.

“We have lost very few bypolls. I always respect the verdict of the people. MLA Bisnu Charan Sethi died recently and he was quite a popular leader. BJP held the seat for a number of years. His son was given the ticket. It was expected that they would win,” said the chief minister, who had campaigned for losing candidate Abanti Das. Congress’s performance in Dhamnagar nosedived to a low of 3,561 votes, relegating it to fourth place in the contest.