June 5th 2024.
Bhubaneswar has been shaken by the recent news that the Biju Janata Dal, which has been reigning supreme for over two decades, has suffered a major defeat in the polls. This comes as a surprise, given that the party has been untouchable since its formation after breaking away from the Janata Dal in 1997. It all began with their victory in the 2000 Assembly elections, where they rode on the immense popularity of Biju Patnaik, and have maintained a strong hold over the state ever since.
The BJD's dominance was evident in this election as well, with a vote share of 40.22%, which was higher than that of their closest rival, the BJP, at 40.07%. The party has been led by Naveen Patnaik, who has also been the Chief Minister of the state for an impressive 24 years, earning him the title of the second longest-serving Chief Minister in India. However, the BJP, their former alliance partner, has put a halt to their winning streak, securing a resounding victory in the 2024 Assembly elections.
One of the major contributing factors to the BJD's defeat is the strong anti-incumbency sentiment among the voters. According to political observers, there were other crucial factors at play as well, including the BJP's aggressive campaign focused on issues such as Odia Asmita (pride), the prospect of a non-Odia leader succeeding Naveen Patnaik, and the Chief Minister's health concerns at the age of 77.
After the alliance talks fell through, the BJP wasted no time in launching an intense campaign, with their top leaders from across the country making a beeline for the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself took the lead, launching scathing attacks on the BJD government on various issues. One of their main targets was BJD's close aide, V.K. Pandian, who hails from Tamil Nadu and was accused of using Patnaik in the poll campaign despite his ill health. The BJP went as far as to claim that Pandian was the one really calling the shots, with the frail CM Patnaik being held hostage.
The party also raised concerns about Pandian potentially taking over the reins of the party and the government after their expected victory in the 2024 elections, which they believed would be a threat to Odia culture, language, literature, and pride. The BJP's efforts seem to have paid off, as their victory in the polls suggests that they were successful in convincing the voters of the potential dangers of having a non-Odia leader in power.
Other issues that the BJP highlighted in their campaign include the mismanagement of the Shree Jagannath Temple, the infamous "missing keys" of the Ratna Bhandar, and the outmigration of labourers to other states. All of these factors played a significant role in the defeat of the seemingly invincible BJD.
In addition, the BJD's failure to groom a strong and capable second-rung of leaders also contributed to their downfall. As a result, the party was unable to withstand the BJP's aggressive campaign and convince the voters to choose them once again. Now, with the BJP securing a major victory and the BJD facing their first poll defeat, it remains to be seen what the future holds for the political landscape of Bhubaneswar.
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