BJP To Garner Above 45% Votes In 2024 General Elections in Odisha : Dharmendra Pradhan
Bhubaneswar: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan exuded unwavering confidence in the electoral prospects of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha for the upcoming 2024 general elections. Speaking at an event organized by Aaj Tak in New Delhi, Pradhan boldly asserted that the BJP is poised to secure a minimum of 15 Lok Sabha seats in the state, accompanied by a projected vote share exceeding 45 percent.
Drawing attention to the BJP’s burgeoning popularity in Odisha, Pradhan highlighted the party’s consistent upward trajectory. He emphasized the evolution from a 22 percent vote share in the 2014 general elections to 38 percent in 2019, clinching eight Lok Sabha seats. Pradhan credited this growth to the increasing resonance of both the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state.
Exploring the Electoral History of Odisha, a political battleground boasting 21 Lok Sabha constituencies, Pradhan referenced the 2019 general elections where the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) secured 12 seats, the BJP claimed eight, and the Congress managed only one. Pradhan’s optimistic outlook for the BJP aims to significantly enhance the party’s footprint in the state.
Affirming confidence in the 2024 Elections, Pradhan underscored Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s noteworthy 80 percent approval rating in Odisha. He also highlighted a consistent uptrend in the party’s vote share in Assembly elections, paving the way for a robust performance in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Nevertheless, Pradhan’s assertions encountered skepticism from the opposition, notably the BJD and the Congress. BJD leader Amar Prasad Satpathy dismissed the claims, asserting that the party’s mandate and voter base, under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, have not only remained intact but are also growing. Satpathy attributed this growth to the transparent and effective leadership of Patnaik.
Former Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president, Jaydev Jena, adopted a more satirical tone, suggesting that Pradhan’s optimism might be misplaced. Jena pointed to recent Assembly elections in three states where the BJP formed governments but faced challenges over chief ministerial posts, indicating that the Union Minister may not have thoroughly analyzed post-poll dynamics.
As the political landscape in Odisha undergoes transformations, the BJP, led by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, is gearing up for a substantial electoral push in the 2024 general elections. While the party expresses confidence in its escalating popularity, the opposition remains skeptical, setting the stage for a fierce political contest in the state. The unfolding electoral scenario in Odisha is poised to be captivating as the nation approaches the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.