Bhubaneswar, (Orissa Today), May 14: A day following Odisha’s defiance of the national trend with a robust 74% voter turnout, V K Pandian, a prominent figure in the ruling BJD, confidently projected the party’s success in securing a significant portion of the 28 Assembly seats contested.
Pandian asserted that the BJD is poised to clinch a minimum of 24 seats, attributing this anticipated victory to what he described as the “Naveen Patnaik wave.” Expressing optimism, he stated, “Whether it’s the first, second, third, or fourth round, BJD is sweeping the elections.” Pandian highlighted the party’s increased prospects, citing the current momentum compared to the previous election’s outcome of 20 seats. However, he acknowledged competitive challenges from the Congress in two seats and the BJP in one.
Regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Pandian refrained from making precise predictions due to the vast scale of the contest. Meanwhile, polling for four Lok Sabha seats—Berhampur, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, and Koraput—was conducted alongside the Assembly elections.
Addressing inquiries about the potential impact of BJP’s prominent leaders’ roadshows, Pandian remained unperturbed, suggesting that the true effect would only be revealed on June 4. He emphasized the overwhelming support and warmth demonstrated by the people towards the BJD and its leader Naveen Patnaik, which, he stated, served as a source of strength and encouragement in their pursuit of Odisha’s welfare.
