PM Modi Congratulates Naveen Patnaik for Odisha Assembly Results

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is seeking a record fifth term.

File photo of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

(Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended congratulations to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) lead in the Assembly elections.

This was followed by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao congratulating the Odisha chief minister.

“Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in a message congratulated and conveyed his greetings to Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister of Odisha on his party’s (BJD) victory in the Assembly elections,” a release from Rao’s office said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also tweeted her response to BJD’s performance. Having won 113 seats, Patnaik’s party is set to form the government in Odisha again.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, on the other hand, are leading in 22 and 10 seats, respectively.

• BJD: 108
• BJP: 24
• INC: 12
• Others: 2

While BJD's Bijaya Ranjan Singh Bariha and Snehangini Chhuria were among those in the lead, BJP leader Sambit Patra secured the Lok Sabha seat in Puri.

In the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat BJP candidate Aparajit Sarangi was leading by 4,359 votes against her BJD rival Arup Mohan Patnaik.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is seeking a fifth term in Odisha as the state readies itself for the results of its Assembly elections along with the Lok Sabha results on Thursday, 23 May.

The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Kumar reportedly told DNA that the counting will take place in approximated 2,500 tables, with each counting hall having at least seven tables each for Assembly and Lok Sabha seats. According to Kumar, three officials will also be stationed at each table.

Appearing confident, Patnaik has even, reportedly, gone on to invite Prime Minister Modi to his swearing in ceremony.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Vice President and Minister Surya Narayan Patro had on Friday, 17 May, said that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is fit to be the prime minister of the country.

Earlier on Wednesday, 22 May, an unidentified assailant fired at the Congress candidate for Odisha's Aska Assembly seat, reported ANI. The candidate, Manoj Jena, was then taken to a hospital in Bhubaneswar in a critical condition.

Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh also await the results of Assembly elections in their states.