BJP’s victory in Odisha’s 2024 elections ended Naveen Patnaik’s long rule, signaling a major political shift in the state
OdishaPlus Bureau
The political dynamics in Odisha experienced a significant transformation in 2024. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious in the Assembly elections, defeating the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by Naveen Patnaik, who had not faced defeat since entering politics in 1997. Former Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured a third consecutive term at the national level. Although the Congress party increased its representation in the Lok Sabha, it fell short of the numbers required to gain a position in the ruling coalition in Parliament.
The electorate in Odisha opted for the BJP, rejecting the BJD’s attempt to secure a sixth consecutive term in government. The BJP triumphed over the regional party in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections within the state. The BJP leadership chose to contest the elections independently, despite earlier speculation regarding a potential alliance with the BJD. The Congress party’s performance was lackluster, leaving it as a minor player in the state’s political arena.
In the 2024 Assembly elections, the BJP achieved a standalone victory by winning at least 78 out of 147 seats. The party’s success was attributed to its emphasis on Odia pride and the introduction of various populist initiatives, such as the Subhadra Yojana aimed at women and an increase in the minimum support price for paddy. Additionally, the BJP leveraged the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several pro-people measures implemented by the Union Government to garner voter support. Notably, the BJP had previously served as a junior partner in the coalition government with the BJD from 2000 to 2009.
The BJD’s governance in Odisha concluded with the 2024 elections, where the party secured only 51 Assembly seats. Under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik, the BJD had maintained an uninterrupted rule from 2000 until 2024 but faced defeat against the BJP, relegating it to the Opposition. Naveen’s aspiration to become the longest-serving Chief Minister in India was dashed as the regional party’s winning streak came to an end.
Notably, the five-time former Chief Minister lost the Assembly election in Kantabanji, his second constituency. Nevertheless, he managed to retain his position as the Leader of the Opposition in the Odisha Assembly by winning his traditional seat in Hinjili. Political analysts have attributed the party’s electoral failure to Naveen’s excessive reliance on his trusted aide, VK Pandian, who transitioned from a bureaucratic role to a political one.
The BJP strengthened its foothold in the state, winning 20 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha during the 2024 elections. The Congress party maintained its solitary seat, with Saptagiri Ulaka re-elected from the Koraput constituency. In contrast, the BJD failed to secure any seats in the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP’s remarkable performance in these elections significantly bolstered its prospects for a third consecutive term at the national level.
Mohan Charan Majhi, a tribal leader and four-time MLA from Keonjhar, was appointed by the BJP’s central leadership to lead the party’s inaugural government in Odisha. The party also designated KV Singh Deo and Pravati Parida as Deputy Chief Ministers to support Majhi. He established a 16-member Council of Ministers, which included senior BJP figures, Suresh Pujari and Prithiviraj Harichandan, while Sambalpur MLA and former Leader of the Opposition Jayanarayan Mishra was not granted a ministerial position.
Several political figures, including both current and former Lok Sabha Members of Parliament, have changed their party affiliations in anticipation of the upcoming dual elections in the state. Two current MPs—Bhartruhari Mahatab (Cuttack) and Anubhav Mohanty (Kendrapara)—along with former Berhampur MP Siddhant Mohapatra, have resigned from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Additionally, numerous sitting Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) have left the BJD to align with the BJP as the elections approach. Conversely, notable BJP figures—Bhrugu Buximpatra and Lekhashree Samantasinghar—have departed from the BJP to join the BJD. Furthermore, senior leaders from the Congress party—Chiranjibi Biswal and Ganeswar Behera—have also transitioned to the regional party.
In February, bureaucrat-turned-politician and BJP leader Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with BJD representatives Debashish Samantaray and Subhashish Khuntia, were elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. The BJD once again endorsed Vaishnaw’s candidacy for the Upper House, having previously supported him during his initial election to the Rajya Sabha in 2019.
Three Members of Parliament from Odisha—two from the Lok Sabha and one from the Rajya Sabha—were appointed to the Union Cabinet under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Dharmendra Pradhan, the MP for Sambalpur, and Rajya Sabha MP Ashwini Vaishnaw maintained their positions in the Cabinet, while Jual Oram, the Lok Sabha MP from Sundargarh, secured a ministerial role at the Centre after a five-year hiatus. Pradhan was assigned to the Education Ministry, Vaishnaw took charge of the Railways and Information & Broadcasting Ministries, and Oram was appointed to oversee the Tribal Affairs Ministry.
Two Members of Parliament from the Rajya Sabha, Mamata Mohanta and Sujeet Kumar, have stepped down from both the Upper House and their primary party membership several months following the BJP’s establishment of government in the state. Subsequently, they aligned with the BJP and were elected to the Rajya Sabha as nominees of the saffron party in two distinct by-elections. As a result, the BJD’s representation in the Rajya Sabha has decreased to seven.
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