Odisha Assembly Polls 2024: Crucial Election To Determine Naveen Patnaik's 25-Year Tenure As CM Set For This Date

In Odisha, with 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 assembly seats, political stakeholders are intensifying their efforts to gain an edge in the electoral race.

Naveen Patnaik has been serving as the Chief Minister of Odisha continuously since the year 2000.

Source : Facebook/NaveenPatnaik

With alliances still in the making in Odisha, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has given momentum by announcing the dates for the Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections. These crucial polls will be conducted simultaneously in the state. The ECI has scheduled the Odisha Assembly Election in two phases on May 13 and May 20.

According to ECI, the counting of votes will be held on June 4, 2024. 

• Issue of Notification: April 18 and April 26, 2024
• Last Date for filing Nominations: April 25 and May 3, 2024
• Scrutiny of Nominations: April 26 and May 4, 2024
• Last date for withdrawal of Candidature: April 29 and May 6, 2024
• Polling of Votes: May 13 and May 20, 2024

Odisha Assembly Election: BJP-BJD To Form Alliance?

With 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 assembly seats, political stakeholders are intensifying their efforts to gain an edge in the electoral race. Against this backdrop, the state witnessed a resurgence of talks regarding a possible alliance between the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and BJP for the upcoming election.

The two parties, which severed ties 15 years ago, are now contemplating a reunion as they navigate the complexities of electoral arithmetic.

BJP-BJD Election Alliance Recap

Reflecting on past collaborations, the alliance between BJD and BJP witnessed victories in two assembly elections and three Lok Sabha polls in Odisha. Formed in February 1998, this partnership laid a robust groundwork, with both parties clinching victories in Lok Sabha elections in 1998, 1999, and 2004, along with assembly elections in 2000 and 2004.

However, the once formidable alliance met its end in 2009 following failed negotiations over seat-sharing. The breakdown was attributed to disagreements, particularly regarding the allocation of assembly and parliamentary seats. The BJD's demand for a reduction in the BJP's share of seats proved to be a stumbling block, leading to the dissolution of the alliance.

Recently, BJP state president Manmohan Samal declared that the party would contest independently, relying on its own merits, across all 147 Assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats. He asserted that the party aimed to secure victory independently and govern autonomously. However, within an hour, Samal reversed his stance and informed the media that his earlier statement reflected his personal opinion and did not represent the official position of the party. 

In the 2019 elections, the BJD and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 12 and eight parliamentary constituencies, as well as 112 and 23 assembly constituencies, respectively.