Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has experienced its first electoral defeat since its inception in 1997 after splitting from the erstwhile Janata Dal. The party, which had remained dominant for over two decades, initially rose to power on the popularity of Biju Patnaik in the 2000 Assembly elections.
Commenting on the defeat, BJD president Naveen Patnaik stated, “In a democracy, you either win or lose. Having been defeated after a long time, we must always take the people’s verdict gracefully.”
Addressing speculations about his successor, Patnaik clarified, “I have said clearly that it is not VK Pandian. I repeat it that the people of Odisha will decide my successor.” He further defended Pandian amidst criticisms, calling the censure “unfortunate” and praising Pandian’s significant contributions to the state’s development both as a bureaucrat and a party leader.
Patnaik expressed his gratitude to the people of Odisha for their long-standing trust, adding, “I appreciate the confidence the people of Odisha have repeatedly placed in me and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve the 4.5 crore family of Odisha.”
Despite the defeat, the BJD’s popularity remains evident, with a vote share of 40.22%, slightly higher than the BJP’s 40.07%. However, the BJP, a former ally of the BJD, managed to halt its winning streak with a decisive victory in the 2024 Assembly elections.
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