The political scenario in Odisha in 2024 has been nothing short of dramatic, with significant shifts in party dynamics and the rise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) despite the enduring popularity of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his Biju Janata Dal (BJD). This year has witnessed the BJP's surge to power in Odisha, a state long considered a stronghold for the BJD. The developments throughout the year have raised questions about the future of Naveen Patnaik’s rule and the BJD's dominance. Here's a detailed year-end review of the political events and factors contributing to the BJP's rise in the state.
Odisha Assembly election 2024: The game changer for BJP
With 78 seats, the BJP won four more seats over the majority mark in 2024 Odisha Assembly elections and formed its government for the first time in Odisha while the BJD won 51 seats, the INC won 14, CPI(M) won one seat and independent candidates won three seats.
Prominent tribal leader Mohan Charan Majhi became the first BJP Chief Minister of the state.
Anti-incumbency, BJP’s dig at Patnaik’s health, Odia pride and attack against Patnaik’s Tamil aide V. K. Pandian, and BJP’s comment about the missing keys to the Jagannath temple played a major role in bringing the national party to power in Odisha.
The BJP won all seats in the Mayurbhanj, the home district of President Droupadi Murmu. The BJP bastion districts in Western Odisha played a major role for party’s success. Naveen Patnaik won in the Hinjli constituency, but lost in Kantabanji, for the first time he got defeated by a first timer.
Like seat share, the BJP’s vote share this year was the highest since 1980 at 40.07%. The BJD’s vote share was 40.22% and the INC registered the lowest vote share since 1980 at 13.26%.
Similarly, BJP won 20 Lok Sabha seats while Congress managed to win one constituency, Koraput.
1 Naveen Patnaik’s continued popularity amid shifting political dynamics
For the first time, Odisha people saw Naveen Patnaik as the Leader of Opposition in state Assembly, the longest-serving Chief Minister of the state and he continues to command significant public support as the LoP.
His development agenda, welfare schemes, and clean image kept him a popular figure among the masses. The BJD’s focus on rural development, disaster management, infrastructure projects, and tribal welfare initiatives resonated with many Odisha residents, particularly in rural and coastal areas.
Despite this, several factors began to emerge that signaled a shift in the political landscape. While Patnaik maintained a solid base, there was growing dissatisfaction in certain sectors—especially urban youth, farmers, and the business community—who felt that the state was not benefiting as much from national schemes or large-scale economic growth as other states.
2. The rise of BJP in Odisha
2024 marked a significant breakthrough for the BJP in Odisha, as it gained considerable ground in areas traditionally dominated by the BJD. Despite Patnaik’s popularity, the BJP managed to make substantial inroads, especially in urban constituencies, by capitalizing on local issues, governance failures, and a strong national narrative under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The BJP’s success was particularly notable in areas where it had previously been weak. The party won key municipal elections, claimed several parliamentary constituencies, and made significant gains in urban centers such as Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, and Rourkela. The BJP’s ability to connect with young voters, leverage dissatisfaction with the state’s governance, and tap into national issues such as unemployment, inflation, and farmers’ protests gave it a strong foothold.
3. Strategic nationalism and Modi’s appeal
The BJP's success in Odisha can largely be attributed to the party’s effective use of nationalism, strong national security narratives, and its alignment with the Modi government’s policies. While Naveen Patnaik’s BJD maintained its strategic position of neutrality on national issues, many Odias began to see the BJP as the party most aligned with their aspirations for a growing economy, better infrastructure, and national recognition.
The Modi government’s focus on projects like Make in India, Skill India, and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana also found resonance in Odisha’s growing urban areas, which were seeking economic rejuvenation. Moreover, the BJP capitalized on regional aspirations, portraying itself as the true advocate for the state’s development at the national stage.
4. Rising discontent with Naveen Patnaik’s governance
While Naveen Patnaik remained hugely popular, particularly in rural and coastal areas, there was increasing dissatisfaction in urban centers and among the youth. The state's infrastructure, education, and healthcare systems were seen as struggling to meet the demands of a rapidly growing population. Unemployment among educated youth and a lack of significant industrial growth in Odisha became major issues that the BJP used to its advantage.
Furthermore, controversies related to corruption in government projects and the alleged mismanagement of state resources gave the BJP a chance to target Patnaik’s administration. Even though the BJD continued to present a clean image, these issues provided a platform for the BJP to criticize the state government’s inefficiency in addressing local grievances.
5. BJP’s aggressive campaign and electoral strategy
The BJP launched an aggressive campaign in Odisha, focusing on key issues such as farmers' distress, rising unemployment, and the lack of industrial growth. The party strategically aligned itself with national themes like economic empowerment, infrastructure development, and youth employment, making inroads into sections of the electorate that were traditionally disillusioned with the BJD’s promises.
The BJP’s electoral strategy also included focusing on Odisha’s tribal population, a demographic largely overlooked by the BJD in recent years. The BJP’s commitment to tribal rights and promises of greater autonomy resonated well in regions like Western Odisha, where tribal communities have historically been marginalized.
6. The decline of congress and its limited impact
The Congress, which once had a strong base in Odisha, continued to falter in 2024. Internal leadership struggles, disunity, and a lack of clear policy direction meant that the Congress was unable to provide a serious challenge to either the BJD or the BJP. While it retained some support in certain rural constituencies, its influence remained insignificant in urban areas.
Despite this, Congress did attempt to align itself with local issues, especially the agrarian distress that affected many parts of the state. However, the party struggled to build a strong organizational presence or develop a compelling narrative to challenge the BJP or the BJD.
7. BJD’s struggle to maintain its popularity
In the face of the BJP’s rising popularity, the BJD began to lose some ground in areas that had once been considered its strongholds. The BJD’s failure to create enough jobs for the state’s rapidly growing educated youth, the slow pace of industrialization, and its inability to adequately address concerns about agricultural distress became points of contention.
The BJD’s position of neutrality on national issues was also increasingly seen as a disadvantage, with the BJP presenting itself as a party capable of driving the state forward by connecting it more closely to national policies and economic development. Despite its record on welfare and development, the BJD was unable to effectively counter the BJP's national narrative.
Conclusion
The political year of 2024 has witnessed a paradigm shift in Odisha, with the BJP emerging as a formidable force despite the continued popularity of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The party’s appeal, particularly among urban youth and the business community, coupled with its nationalistic campaign, has allowed it to gain significant ground at the expense of the BJD. The 2024 general elections marked a turning point in Odisha’s political history, with the BJP's rise to power reshaping the state’s political dynamics for the foreseeable future.
