Exit polls: Naveen Patnaik's BJD to reign supreme in Odisha

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha’s ruling Biju Janta Dal looks set to retain power in the state and win most seats in the Lok Sabha elections, according to exit polls released on Monday. While BJD is expected to come back to power for a fourth term, there has been considerable speculation on how comfortable the margin will be.

“We are confident of crossing not only the 100 mark, but winning more than 105 assembly seats and 15 parliament seats,” said senior BJD leader and RS member Kalpataru Das. BJD holds 14 of 21 parliamentary seats and 103 of 147 Assembly seats.

“Exit polls have said we will have a comfortable position in the Assembly and 15 parliamentary seats, supporting what we have believed all along. And as per their estimates the BJP may not need any our support anyways,” said MP Pinaki Misra.

While the Times Now-ORG exit poll gives BJD 15 Lok Sabha seats, CNN-IBN & CSDS post-poll survey has predicted anywhere between 12 to 16 seats for the party. In 2009, Naveen Patnaik-led BJD had won 14 seats. For BJP, the Times Now-ORG exit poll has predicted just one parliamentary seat. CNN-IBN & CSDS, however, has given it three to seven. The general opinion was that the saffron party has made significant gains from Narendra Modi-led campaigning.

While the Times Now-ORG post-poll survey has predicted five Lok Sabha seats for Congress, CNN-IBN & CSDS exit poll gives it one to three seats.

Before elections, 67-year-old, three-time chief minister Patnaik was considered a possible king maker and even prime ministerial candidate of a Third Front government by some. Simultaneous Assembly and parliamentary elections were held in the state last month.

BJD’s main poll plank was the neglect of the state by the Centre. It contested the elections distancing itself not only from its former ally, the BJP, and the Congress, but also from the Third Front.