On June 5, Naveen Patnaik, the leader of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), officially stepped down from his position as the chief minister of Odisha. He gave his resignation letter to Governor Raghubar Das at Raj Bhavan, the governor’s official residence in Bhubaneswar. This happened a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended Patnaik’s long 24-year leadership in the state.
Many leaders from the BJD had gathered at Patnaik’s home, but Patnaik chose to go alone to the governor’s house to submit his resignation.
Naveen Patnaik Resigns as Odisha CM
After a major defeat in the state assembly elections, Odisha Chief Minister and BJD leader Naveen Patnaik ended his 24-year tenure by resigning at the Raj Bhavan in Bhubaneshwar today, submitting his resignation to Governor Raghubar Das.
The Biju Janta Dal (BJD) had controlled Odisha since 1997, holding power for 27 years. However, the recent Lok Sabha Election 2024 Results saw the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerge victorious, ending Patnaik’s longstanding dominance.
In the 147-seat assembly, the BJP secured 78 seats, while the BJD managed to win only 51 seats. Congress followed with 14 seats.
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Odisha Assembly and Lok Sabha Elections 2024
The voting process to choose members for the Odisha Assembly took place in four stages, starting from May 13. Each stage had different areas of Odisha voting for their representatives. The first phase involved 28 out of the total 147 seats, followed by 35 seats in the second phase on May 20. The last two phases were on May 25 and June 1, each with 42 seats.
It’s important to note that some seats in the Assembly are reserved for certain groups of people. There are 24 seats specifically set aside for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and 33 seats for Scheduled Tribes (STs). This is done to ensure fair representation for all communities in the Assembly.
The current term for the Odisha Assembly began on June 25, 2019, and will continue until June 24, 2024. During these elections, Naveen Patnaik won in the Hinjli constituency, though with a narrow margin of 4,636 votes.
Additionally, while the Assembly elections were happening, there were also elections for the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Indian Parliament) in Odisha. In these elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 20 out of the total 21 seats, making them the dominant party in the Lok Sabha from Odisha.
The Congress party managed to secure just one seat. Notable winners in the Lok Sabha elections include Dharmendra Pradhan, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Jual Oram, Baijayany Panda, and Sambit Patra.
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Naveen Patnaik Resigns as Odisha CM FAQs
Q.1. Why did Naveen Patnaik resign as the Chief Minister of Odisha?
Ans. Naveen Patnaik resigned following a significant defeat for his party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), in the state assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged victorious, ending his 24-year tenure as Chief Minister.
Q.2. How long has the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) been in power in Odisha?
Ans. The BJD had been in power in Odisha since 1997, holding control for 27 years until the recent state elections when the BJP secured a majority.
Q.3. What was the outcome of the recent Odisha state assembly elections?
Ans. In the 147-seat assembly, the BJP won 78 seats, while the BJD managed to secure only 51 seats. The Congress party followed with 14 seats.
Q.4. How many phases were there in the voting process for the Odisha Assembly elections?
Ans. The voting process for the Odisha Assembly took place in four phases, starting from May 13. Each phase covered different areas of Odisha, with varying numbers of seats up for election.
Q.5. Who were the notable winners in the Lok Sabha elections in Odisha?
Ans. In the Lok Sabha elections held simultaneously with the Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 20 out of 21 seats in Odisha. Notable winners included Dharmendra Pradhan, Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Jual Oram, Baijayany Panda, and Sambit Patra.
