Riding on Modi magic, BJP set for huge gains in Odisha in 2019: ABP News Survey

The BJP is eyeing major gains in Odisha, which will witness both general and Assembly elections in 2019. The saffron party hopes it has a chance to come to power in the state by riding on Modi's popularity and prevailing anti-incumbency against the BJD, which has been in power for the last 18 years.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. PTI Photo

NEW DELHI: The BJP is eyeing major gains in Odisha, which will witness both general and Assembly elections in 2019. The saffron party hopes it has a chance to come to power in the state by riding on Modi's popularity and prevailing anti-incumbency against the BJD, which has been in power for the last 18 years. The BJP had fared better in the panchayat polls last year, relegating the Congress to the third position. However, the ruling party remained on top. There have been reports that Odisha BJP leaders and workers want Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contest from the Puri constituency in 2019. Now, the ABP News-C Voter 'Desh ka Mood' survey has found that Narendra Modi-led BJP is likely to win big in Odisha in the 2019 general elections. According to the survey, the saffron party is likely to win a majority of the Lok Sabha seats in Odisha and push the ruling BJD to second place. Riding on the 'Modi-magic', the BJP is set to conquer Odisha with 16 out of 21 seats while Naveen Patnaik's regional force BJD will be reduced to only six seats, the survey has found. The BJD had won 20 of 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state in 2014 and the BJP one while the Congress suffered a complete rout. The BJD bagged 44.1 per cent votes and the BJP got 21.5 per cent. The Congress got 26 per cent of the total votes which is more than that of the BJP. In assembly elections of 2014, the BJD had bagged 117 of the 147 while its rivals, the Congress and the BJP managed 16 and 10 seats respectively. Patnaik has had an uninterrupted reign since 2000 and was an ally of the BJP before he broke ties in 2009 following Kandhamal riots. The BJD and BJP were ally for 11 years before they parted ways. They jointly fought the Lok Sabha polls in 1998, 1999 and 2004 and the assembly elections of 2000 and 2004. In the Lok Sabha polls of 1998, 1999 and 2004, the BJD won 9, 10, and 12 seats respectively, while the BJP won 7, 9, and 7 seats. In the assembly polls of 2000 and 2004, the BJD bagged 68 and 61 seats, while the BJP won 38 and 32 seats respectively. The BJD won 103 seats in the 147-member assembly in 2009 elections, leaving behind the Congress and BJP with only 27 and six seats respectively.