Odisha Lok Sabha elections 2024: A look at key parties and contests

2024 Lok Sabha Election in Odisha.

The Biju Janata Dal - BJD, The Bharatiya Janata Party- BJP, and the Indian National Congress are engaged in a three-way battle for the state of Odisha.

Odisha will be voting for the State Legislature as well as the Lok Sabha in elections over four phases from 13 May to 1 June to elect 21 members to the Lok Sabha. The counting of votes will take place on 4 June 2024.The election promises to be interesting. In the last Lok Sabha elections in 2019, the ruling BJD won 12 seats, the BJP won 8 and the Congress could win only 1 seat.

While the BJD is confident of not only winning, but also increasing its seat count, the BJP which is the ruling party in the country is fighting hard to improve upon its performance. The Congress is also hopeful of a better seat count as in the past, it was the ruling party in the state. The 2019 elections saw a voter turnout 0f 73.2%. This year more than 3 crore people from the state are eligible to cast their votes.

The BJD has held power in the state for more than two decades under its long-serving Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The party has created a manifesto focused on welfare and development for the upcoming elections. The BJD is basing its campaign on the development they have brought in to the state as well as the uncorruptible image of the party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Also check: Maharashtra 2024 Lok Sabha election phase 3: Key constituencies and candidates.

The BJP, which is the main opposition party in Odisha, is fighting to increase its footprint in the state.There were rumours of a BJD-BJP alliance in Odisha, but these have been laid to rest with both parties deciding to go it alone.  The BJP is hoping to win the state based on anti-incumbency sentiments which it says are on the rise due to the long rule that the BJD has enjoyed.

The Congress hopes that it will be able to claw its way back to a respectable position and is keen to better its performance of more than a single seat.