Odisha Assembly Elections 2024: Some Of The Key candidates To Look Out For

Following a four-phase election in the Odisha, with a 74.44% turnout, results for 147 constituencies are fothcoming.

In the 2019 Legislative Assembly elections, Naveen Patnaik's BJD secured a resounding victory, claiming 112 seats out of 147. Mr. Patnaik was sworn in as Chief Minister for a fifth consecutive term since 2000 and aims to secure a sixth consecutive term.

Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Step-By-Step Guide To Check Constituency-Wise Results

Let's delve into some of the prominent candidates participating in the Odisha Assembly elections:

• Naveen Patnaik: If re-elected, the Odisha CM, who has served for 24 years, would secure his sixth term, potentially becoming India’s longest-serving Chief Minister, surpassing former Sikkim CM Pawan Kumar Chamling’s record. Despite starting his political career at the age of 50, the 77-year-old BJD chief, son of the late Biju Patnaik, has enjoyed a remarkable career, never experiencing defeat in elections.
• Anjani Soren: Despite personal challenges, Anjani Soren is striving to maintain the JMM's presence in Odisha. She is the daughter of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren and sister of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, leading a solitary effort to uphold the JMM's relevance beyond Jharkhand.
• Dilip Tirkey: BJD candidate Dilip Tirkey, currently serving as Hockey India president, boasts numerous achievements. He is the only hockey player to surpass 400 national caps and the first Indian hockey captain from a tribal community. After a narrow loss in the 2014 Lok Sabha election, he aggressively approaches this year’s electoral contest in Sundargarh – recognized as the hub of hockey in the State.
• Jual Oram: India’s first Tribal Affairs Minister post bifurcation of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in 1999, Jual Oram is a seasoned BJP MP, representing Odisha in the Lok Sabha five times since 1998. A prominent tribal face of the saffron party, he has also led the Odisha unit of BJP.