Naveen Patnaik Resigns as Chief Minister of Odisha After 24 Years in Office

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik officially handed over his resignation to Governor Raghubar Das at the Raj Bhavan today, marking the end of his record 24-year tenure as the leader of Odisha. Patnaik’s resignation follows the Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) loss in the recent state elections, where the party secured just 51 out of the 147 seats, failing to maintain a majority.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious in the elections, winning 78 seats and positioning itself to form the new government in Odisha. This shift marks a significant political change in the state, which has seen consistent leadership under Patnaik since he first assumed office in 2000.

During his tenure, Patnaik has been credited with driving Odisha’s development across various sectors, achieving remarkable progress in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social welfare. His leadership has been characterized by a focus on inclusive growth and poverty alleviation, earning him widespread respect and popularity.

In a statement issued on social media yesterday, Patnaik congratulated all the winning candidates, regardless of their party affiliations, and expressed gratitude to the BJD workers and leaders for their dedication and sacrifices. “My best wishes to all the winning candidates irrespective of their party affiliations. I express my respect and gratitude to all the workers and leaders of Biju Janata Dal for their dedicated efforts and sacrifice,” Patnaik wrote.

Governor Raghubar Das is now set to initiate the process of inviting the BJP to form the new government.