As Odisha goes to the polls, BJP gears up for a change in the state, ending a record 24-year continuous rule of CM Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal at the age of 77.
However, the BJP also campaigned against Naveen with whom it had shared power as junior alliance partner between 2000 and 09 during its Odisha days. A double-engine government which comprises Odia pride, people’s wishes on emotion issues was formed and then followed by an elaborate campaign plan by BJP. The BJP won 78 seats, the RSS 51 seats, the Congress 14 seats, the CPM one seat and three independents were electe. The outcome saw Naveen losing one of his two constituencies: Kantabanji but winning in Hinjili to make it six wins in succession.
“This is a vote for change. There is a whole new generation in Orissa that has never had another chief minister other than Naveen, who are now almost forty years old.” That was according to retired political science professor RK Satapathy.
Through this landmark victory over Naveen he will become India’s longest-serving Prime Minister In August this year. Since he participated in legislative elections for the first time in 2000 Navin has never lost any election.
Lok Sabha election
Parliamentary elections
Some of these include Narendra Modi and Amit Shah (Union Home Minister) who have been very active campaigners here highlighting local concerns like missing keys of Ratna Bhandar from iconic Puri temple Lord Jagannath’s holy treasury and day-by-day increasing influence of Tamil Nadu-born IAS officer.
Asked if they would accept Pandian as their chief minister from Tamil Nadu, they promised an Oriya youth leadership position within their party at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He made it public on June 1st just before we could start counting for final lap, realizing that people had started disliking his associate. Naveen also tried to prove that he is still in good health and can rule the country. It came too late; voters had already resolved.
“The elections were conducted against the backdrop of a failure of coalition talk between RSS and RSS, where the latter was weaker in people’s perception. This came after RJP unilaterally withdrew from regional parties’ alliance plans citing issues with them on this matter. There are differences of view on the welfare aspect of Odisha vis-à-vis Orissa.
The transition from BJD’s long-standing tenure to a BJP-led government is expect to change everything about India’s development and governance at once.
Speaking at the victory celebrations in Bhubaneswar BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda remarked that, on this day “history has been created” and declared “New Orissa for New India”. The beginning of the efforts for “Bang”, among which “Odia Amita” is still important.
Now what comes next is who could be the chief minister. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has emerged as a top contender, though there might be surprises from the top brass of BJP at the Centre. BJD state president Manmohan Samal, who lost the Chandabali seat by 1,916 votes, is also under consideration.
The BJP’s current manifesto promises such as buying paddy at Rs 3,100 per quintal instead of existing minimum support price of Rs 2183 have endeared them to farmers while Subhadra Yojna’s assurance of giving women rs 50000 cash vouchers has caused ripples among female faithful of BJD. The BJP successfully struck a chord with Odia sentiments by raising Ratna Bandar issue in Puri.
By and large, Odisha was govern by Congress governments and Janata Party (1977-80 and 1990-95) for more than four decades. Regional parties like Swatantra Party and Utkal Congress ruled over the state for about five years (1967-71 and 1971-72).
This outcome has thrown into an existential quandary BJD that dominated political discourse in Odisha for almost quarter a century under Naveen Patnaik’s stewardship. Since his entry into politics following his father Biju Patnaik’s death in 1997, Naveen had become much sought after first as Union Minister during 1998 -1999 then as Chief Minister.
It should therefore attract attention whether he chooses to be leader of opposition party or passes on duties to those people from his party.
