Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, after a substantial defeat in both State Assembly and Parliamentary elections, resigned from his post, marking the end of his 24-year tenure. His resignation came following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory over the ruling Biju Janata Dal, signifying a significant political shift in the state.
In the recent elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a decisive victory, winning 78 out of the 147 seats in the State Assembly, while the Biju Janata Dal managed to secure only 51 seats, falling short of the majority mark. This electoral outcome marked the end of Naveen Patnaik’s long-standing reign as the Chief Minister of Odisha. Furthermore, in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP performed exceptionally well, securing 20 out of the 21 parliamentary seats in the state, further consolidating its position in Odisha’s political landscape. Naveen Patnaik’s entry into state politics through the Biju Janata Dal, a party named after his father, former Odisha CM Biju Patnaik, marked the beginning of a political legacy. His tenure as Chief Minister began in 2000 after the BJD’s success in the Assembly elections, where they formed a coalition with the BJP to gain a majority. With Naveen Patnaik’s resignation, attention now turns to the selection of the next Chief Minister of Odisha. Speculations abound regarding potential candidates, including Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi, Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi, Former Union tribal minister Jual Oram, and BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra, among others.
The resignation of Naveen Patnaik marks the end of an era in Odisha’s political landscape. With the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory, the state braces for a new leadership, with speculations rife regarding the next Chief Minister. As the political transition unfolds, the selection of the new Chief Minister will shape the future trajectory of Odisha’s governance and political dynamics.
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