The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making significant strides in Odisha, leading in 79 assembly seats and posing a substantial challenge to the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). The anti-incumbency sentiment against BJD’s long-standing leader, Naveen Patnaik, appears to be a pivotal factor in the BJP’s surge.
Potential Chief Ministerial Candidates
Among the BJP’s prominent figures, four leaders are emerging as potential chief ministerial candidates. These include:
Jual Oram: A former Union Minister and current BJP MP, Oram is leading by a significant margin in the Sundergarh Lok Sabha constituency. While there is speculation about his candidacy for the chief minister’s post, Oram has expressed that he does not actively aspire for the role but is willing to serve if assigned.
Baijayant Panda: Serving as BJP’s national vice-president, Panda is leading in the Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency. With a background in engineering and management, Panda has a distinguished record as a four-time Member of Parliament and strong ties with various industry organizations.
Sambit Patra: The BJP’s national spokesperson, Patra, is leading in the Puri Lok Sabha seat. A doctor by profession, Patra became the national spokesperson in 2014 and has also chaired the tourism department.
Dharmendra Pradhan: Leading from the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, Pradhan is a BJP leader and Cabinet Minister for Education and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Known for his initiatives in the petroleum sector, Pradhan has spearheaded several reforms and projects during his tenure.
These leaders’ current lead in their respective Lok Sabha seats indicates a potential shift in leadership if the BJP comes to power in the state.
BJP’s Campaign Strategy
The BJP’s campaign in Odisha, spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has resonated with various voter concerns. The campaign has emphasized issues such as Odia self-identity (Odia Asmita), criticism of the non-Odia successor to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and the mismanagement of the Shree Jagannath Temple. Other focal points include labor migration, corruption, and law and order issues. The Modi wave, particularly influenced by the construction of the grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya, has significantly swayed voters in both urban and rural regions.
Historical Context and Recent Performance
In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJD secured a dominant 112 out of 147 seats, while the BJP managed 23 seats, and the Congress won nine. Odisha, which has 21 Lok Sabha constituencies and 146 Assembly constituencies, held elections in four phases. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJD maintained its dominance with 12 out of 21 seats, albeit a drop from the 20 seats it secured in 2014. The BJP, on the other hand, made notable gains, capturing eight seats, up from just one in 2014.
As Odisha braces for another electoral showdown, the BJP’s growing influence, backed by a strategic campaign and prominent leadership, indicates a potential reshaping of the state’s political landscape. Whether the anti-incumbency wave and strategic maneuvers will be sufficient for the BJP to unseat the BJD remains to be seen, but the momentum is certainly building in their favor.
4o