Bhubaneswar: The results of the 2022 panchayat elections are out and the ruling BJD has captured 90% of Zilla Parishad (ZP) seats, pushing the Opposition BJP and Congress to the fringes. While the Conch party has smashed all previous records by winning 765 (+one uncontested) of 852 seats, BJP and Congress have been reduced to 42 and 37 seats respectively.
This is Congress’ worst performance in the last 20 years. It drew a blank in 18 of the 30 districts of the state. Of the 37 seats, 12 are from Koraput, represented by Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka (the party’s lone MP in Odisha); six from Rayagada, four from Balangir, 2 each from Balasore and Gajapati, three each from Kandhamal and Malkangiri, one each from Jagatsinghpur, Kalahandi, Mayurbhaj, Nuapada and Sonepur with a voting percentage of 13.57. The party could garner 28,54,398 of the total 2,10,28,403 valid votes polled in 851 ZPs, as against 1,10,89,712 of BJD and 63,23,746 of BJP, which had a voting percentage of 52.73 and 30.07 respectively.
The free fall of the faction-ridden grand old party has been continuing since it was voted out of power in the state in 2000. In 2002, Congress won 283 seats and formed 10 ZPs and its presence grew marginally in 2007 with 303 seats and 11 ZPs as BJD and the BJP shared seats and engaged in “friendly fights” as they were in an alliance government.
In 2012, it had to settle for 128 seats and two ZPs as BJD put up a stellar show, grabbing 651 seats and 28 ZPs, while BJP got a paltry 36 seats with the alliance having been snapped. Five years later, Congress was reduced to 60 seats and three ZPs and edged out by BJP as the main opposition in the state as it garnered an impressive 297 seats and eight ZPs while BJD bagged 476 seats and had control over 19 ZPs.
Speaking on the poll debacle, Congress present Niranjan Patnaik said, “We are responsible for the situation the Opposition is in right now. The CM neither meets his party leaders nor the public, yet he is able to garner votes. The BJD is taking advantage by spending funds meant for various government schemes.”
He also alleged that the involvement of government officials has increased. On exodus in Congress, he said some leaders are deserting the party for selfish motives.
