In an unprecedented political setback, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has lost from Kantabanji seat in the state assembly elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Laxman Bag defeated Patnaik at Kantabanji, according to CNN-News 18.
Patnaik’s defeat comes as his party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has taken a beating from the BJP in the assembly elections in Odisha.
Of Odisha’s total 147 seats, the BJP is ahead on 77 as against the BJD’s 52, according to latest figures.
In his long political career, this would be the first defeat for Patnaik, who was serving a fifth straight chief ministerial term. His long reign is now set to end as the BJP is on its way to form the government in the state as its lead has crossed the majority-mark of 74.
In the assembly elections, even as Patnaik pressed dozens of star campaigners into action, the real action boiled down to him and his lieutenant VK Pandian. The campaign also saw some sharp rhetoric as Prime Minister Narendra Modi mounted a criticism over his physical and mental health. He said that he has heard complaints that there was a campaign to harm Patnaik’s health and that a BJP government in the state would set up a panel to probe it.
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Odisha Assembly Elections: CM Naveen Patnaik loses from Kantabanji as BJD loses the state to BJP
