Odia Asmita Drives BJP to Victory in Odisha

In a historic mandate, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ended the 24-year Biju Janata Dal (BJD) rule in Odisha. The BJP’s victory was fueled by an aggressive campaign centered around Odia Asmita (pride). This win marks the BJP’s first full-majority government in the state, signaling a significant change in Odisha’s political landscape. The BJD, which has no particular ideology except for advancing the welfare of the vulnerable, has long aimed to further the development of Odisha, a poor state along the Bay of Bengal. Despite its consistent opposition to the Indian National Congress (INC) and the BJP, the BJD found itself unable to maintain its dominance.¹ This shift reflects a desire for change among the state’s electorate, driven by the BJP’s focus on regional pride and local issues.

A Historic Shift in Power & Vote Share Dynamics

The Odisha Assembly elections, held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha (LS) elections, saw the BJP clinch 78 of the 147 Assembly seats, pushing the BJD to its worst-ever performance with 51 seats. This significant shift ended BJD’s reign since 2000 and set the stage for the BJP to lead Odisha for the first time. The saffron surge also swept the LS polls, with the BJP winning 20 of the 21 seats, leaving Congress with one and BJD with none. Preliminary estimates revealed a close contest in the Assembly polls, with the BJD securing a 40.18% vote share and the BJP closely following with 39.96%. In the LS elections, the BJP outperformed the BJD with a 45.51% vote share against the BJD’s 37.50%. In comparison, the 2019 elections had the BJD dominating with a 45.2% vote share and 112 Assembly seats, while the BJP had 32.8% and 23 seats. The LS results from 2019 showed the BJD with 43.3% (12 seats) and the BJP with 38.9% (eight seats).²

Key Losses and Gains

For the first time, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik faced electoral defeat in Kantabanji, losing to BJP’s Laxman Bag by 16,344 votes. However, he retained his traditional seat, Hinjili, by a narrow margin of 4,636 votes. Patnaik’s decision to contest from a western Odisha seat aimed to counter BJP’s growth in the region, a strategy that proved successful in 2019, faltered this time. The BJD’s defeat also meant that Patnaik fell short of becoming the longest-serving Chief Minister, missing former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling’s record by 74 days. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s victory in the Sambalpur LS seat, defeating BJD’s Pranab Prakash Das by 1.17 lakh votes, underscored the strong wave in favor of the BJP, which breached traditional BJD strongholds in coastal and interior regions. Pradhan emphasized Odia pride, a central theme in the BJP’s campaign targeting the CM’s aide, V. K. Pandian, whose Tamil Nadu roots were highlighted.

BJD’s Setback

The BJD faced a major setback in Ganjam, the home district of the CM, losing 11 of the 13 seats. In 2019, the BJD had secured 12 seats in this district. The high-profile Aska LS seat saw its first defeat, with BJP’s Anita Subhadarshini winning by around 1 lakh votes. In Berhampur, another LS seat in Ganjam, Patnaik’s former aide Pradeep Panigrahy, now with BJP, won by a margin of over 1.6 lakh votes.³ Several factors contributed to the BJD’s downfall, including corruption allegations against local leaders and missteps in ticket distribution. The party’s strategy of repeating most MLAs despite strong anti-incumbency sentiments backfired. In contrast, BJP candidates like Amar Kumar Nayak and Pravati Parida capitalized on these shortcomings, winning crucial seats.

The Rise of Mohan Charan Majhi

Mohan Charan Majhi, a four-time MLA with roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has been chosen as the new Chief Minister of Odisha. Majhi’s journey from a sarpanch to the state’s highest office highlights his deep connection with the grassroots and his dedication to public service. As a prominent tribal face of the BJP, Majhi’s political career began as the sarpanch of the Raikala panchayat. He later became a teacher at Saraswati Sishu Mandir, a school affiliated with the Sangh Parivar. Majhi returned to the Assembly in 2019, where his performance and advocacy for tribal causes stood out. Majhi, who has been vocal about mining sector irregularities, particularly in his native Keonjhar district, introduced several private members’ bills, including the Odisha Whistle Blowers’ Protection Bill, 2020. His empathy and active participation in social functions earned him widespread support.⁴

Conclusion

The BJP’s victory in the Odisha Assembly elections marks a significant turning point for the state. With Mohan Charan Majhi at the helm, the BJP is poised to bring fresh energy and a new direction to Odisha’s governance. This win not only reflects a desire for change among the people but also highlights the effectiveness of the BJP’s campaign strategy focused on regional pride and addressing local issues. As Odisha steps into this new political era, the BJP’s leadership will be closely watched to see how it fulfills its promises and meets the expectations of the electorate. The BJD, with its long-standing commitment to welfare and development, will need to reassess its strategies to continue its mission in this new political landscape.

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