June 6th 2024.
In a surprise turn of events, the Biju Janata Dal led by Naveen Patnaik suffered a crushing defeat in the recent Assembly elections in the state of Odisha. Just two days after this unexpected loss, Manoj Kumar Mishra, the Principal Secretary of Electronics and IT Department in the Odisha government, resigned from his position. An office order was issued on Thursday confirming that the Governor had accepted his resignation.
Mishra had been appointed as the IT Secretary by the Naveen Patnaik-led state government in January 2023, a day after his resignation from the Indian Railway Traffic Service was accepted by the Centre. He was known to be a close associate of VK Pandian, a trusted aide of Naveen Patnaik. However, Mishra's sudden resignation has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation about the reasons behind it.
In addition to Mishra, two retired IAS officers, Suresh Chandra Mahapatra and R Balakrishnan, also tendered their resignations as Chief Advisors to the Chief Minister's Office and Special Initiatives. This mass exodus of top officials has come in the wake of the BJD's defeat in the Assembly elections on June 4. Naveen Patnaik, who had been serving as the Chief Minister of Odisha since 2000, submitted his resignation to Governor Raghubar Das after the election results were announced. As per protocol, the Governor requested Patnaik to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until a new government is formed.
The Biju Janata Dal's defeat at the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been a major upset for the party and its supporters. The saffron party secured a whopping 78 Assembly seats, surpassing the majority mark of 74 in the 147-member Assembly. In comparison, the BJD could only manage to win 51 seats, while the Congress won 14 seats. This victory has brought the BJP to power in Odisha for the first time, marking a significant shift in the state's political landscape.
It is clear that the BJD's defeat in the Assembly elections has had far-reaching consequences. The resignations of top officials, including Mishra, have raised questions about the party's future and the possible reasons behind its loss. As the state eagerly awaits the formation of a new government, only time will tell how this defeat will shape the political landscape of Odisha.
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