Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik is likely to take oath as the Chief Minister of Odisha for a record fifth consecutive term on May 27.
The State, which saw Assembly and Lok Sabha elections simultaneously, has decisively handed a mandate to BJD and endorsed a record fifth consecutive term for Patnaik. He has been the CM of Odisha since 2000.
Sources said the legislature party meet will be held on Saturday after which Patnaik will meet Governor Ganeshi Lal to stake claims to form Government in the State. The swearing-in ceremony is likely to be a low-key affair in view of the Cyclone Fani that devastated parts of the State on May 3.
Patnaik expressed his gratitude to the people of the State and party workers and leader for the victory.
“I express my gratitude to the people of Odisha for showering their blessings on Biju Janata Dal from time to time. Thank all the leaders and party workers who worked hard. I extend my special thanks to all the women voters who turned in large numbers to ensure our spectacular win,” said Patnaik.
Patnaik’s BJD has won 112 seats. In 2014, it had won 117 seats while BJP bagged 10 seats. Congress won 16 seats in the 147-member State Assembly. As per the latest ECI report, the BJP has registered victory in 24 seats and Congress in eight seats while others grabbed two seats.
The State has altogether 147 Assembly seats. Polls to the Patkura constituency were countermanded after the death of BJD candidate Bed Prakash Agrawalla.
The BJD’s Assembly victory was witnessed in all the regions of the State. Party president Patnaik, who himself contested from two seats – Bijepur in Bargarh district of western Odisha and his usual seat of Hinjili in Ganjam district of southern Odisha – also recorded landslide victory.
The BJD has fielded candidates in all the 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats across the State.
The BJD has also managed to check the BJP march in the State so far as Lok Sabha results is concerned. While BJD was victorious in 12 parliamentary constituencies, BJP won eight seats while Congress was confined to one seat.
