Bhubaneswar: Buoyed by its landslide victory in Padampur bypoll, Odisha’s ruling BJD on Saturday voiced confidence about winning 125 of the 147 Assembly seats in the 2024 elections.
However, unfazed by its defeat by a huge margin, BJP said it is hopeful of forming government by securing two-third majority in the next Assembly elections, while Congress claimed it will achieve big gain, but may not be able to come to power in 2024.
Claiming that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s popularity is on the rise, BJD legislator and former Minister Sushant Singh told reporters that the party president’s charisma and well-planned strategies ensured a spectacular victory in Padampur Assembly bypoll.
Stating that the party won 114 assembly seats in the state in 2019 elections due to some miscalculations, Singh said BJD could win only 23 seats in western Odisha last time.
“However, our party will clinch more than 30 of the 36 seats in the western region this time. BJD will win at least 125 seats in the 147-member Assembly in next elections,” the senior BJD leader claimed.
The party leaders will request the Chief Minister to contest from a constituency in western Odisha, he said, adding that the BJD chief is likely to visit Padampur next month.
Dismissing BJD’s optimism, leader of opposition and BJP stalwart Jayanarayan Mishra said every political party draws a blueprint for upcoming elections and the same exercise is being undertaken ahead of the 2024 polls.
Stating that BJP is also focusing on all the 147 assembly seats in the state, Mishra claimed that the party will win form government with two-third majority in the next Assembly.
Congress, on its part, claimed it will significantly improve its electoral performance in 2024 and win around 65 Assembly seats in the state, while BJD’s tally may be reduced substantially.
Senior Congress leader and Jatni MLA Suresh Routray said the party is fully prepared for the next elections and it is likely to win 60 to 65 Assembly seats. However, Congress will not be in a position to form government and the state may witness a coalition rule in the state after 2024 elections, he claimed.
