Bhubaneswar: After forming government following its spectacular victory in 2024 Assembly elections in Odisha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is now set to encounter many challenges in 2025. While the saffron has been in power for the last nearly seven months, the BJP government will face its acid test this year. The government will be under close watch as people will like to know whether it runs the government efficiently and fulfils the promises made before the elections. Moreover, opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will be more aggressive this year. BJD president Naveen Patnaik’s recent visits to districts to meet farmers who suffered crop loss caused by unseasonal rain received a very good response. Enthusiasm among BJD workers and leaders has considerably increased following this. On the other hand, this year is going to be highly challenging for Congress which has been waiting to get its state unit president.
Acid Test for BJP
After coming to power, BJP has been unable to fulfil all the election promises. Be it return of chit fund money to investors or providing free electricity, the government will be under close watch to see what steps it takes to fulfil its unfulfilled promises. There are complaints over paddy procurement. After the BJP came to power, farmers were hopeful of getting higher prices for their produce. Increase in the prices of essential commodities in the last few months has become a cause of worry for the common people. Similarly, it is also hoped that the BJP government will hold talks for resolution of contentious issues like Mahanadi River water sharing, Polavaram project, and Kotia dispute. The party is also a target of the opposition on law and order issues. Therefore, it may be a challenge for the BJP to implement the welfare schemes properly and maintain the popularity of the party.
Enthusiasm in BJD, mood to change
After being in power for 24 years, the BJD is now in the opposition. After initially remaining silent for a few months after the electoral debacle, BJD President Naveen Patnaik is now reaching out to the people. Naveen visited various affected districts after the unseasonal rains destroyed the crops. His visit received a very good response. While people are eager to see Naveen, the enthusiasm of leaders and workers is increasing. Therefore, this year, the BJD will attack the BJP government with full force. It will also be a big challenge for the BJD to keep its own party leaders together. After Mamata Mohant and Sujeet Kumar quit the regional party and joined the BJP, many are talking about the possibility of others leaving the party. Even MPs and panchayat level leaders are leaving the regional party. Therefore, keeping the party united will be a challenge for the BJD.
Will the Congress collapse?
While the BJP came to power after defeating the BJD, the Congress was not able do such a great job. The Congress is in news for lack of aggressive actions and factionalism within the party. In the last Lok Sabha elections, the Congress did well at the national level, but it lagged behind in Odisha. This year, the state Congress is set get a new chief in the sate unit. However, the party will have to work hard to strengthen its organisation and put an end to the internal strife. Bringing back the leaders who left the party and reorganising the workers will be a big challenge for the Congress.
The year 2024 presented a big twist in state politics as the BJP formed its first government with a masterstroke. However, it will be a major challenge for the party to retain the trust of the people after coming to power. Similarly, both the BJD and the Congress face many big challenges as opposition parties this year.
