End of an Era: Shri Naveen Patnaik Resigns as Odisha Chief Minister

onlinesambalpurJune 5, 2024

51 2 minutes read

Shri Naveen Patnaik, after serving as the Chief Minister of Odisha for 24 years, has officially resigned from his position today. The BJD leader met with Odisha Governor Raghubar Das at the Raj Bhawan to submit his resignation.

The BJP has achieved a historic victory in Odisha, winning 78 out of 147 assembly seats, and is set to form the government in the state for the first time. Meanwhile, the BJD secured 51 seats in the assembly. This outcome has dashed Naveen Patnaik’s hopes of becoming Chief Minister for the sixth consecutive term.

In a historic turn of events, the BJP has won a massive victory in the state, securing 78 out of 147 assembly seats. This is the first time the BJP will form a government in Odisha. As per the previous announcement, the BJP Chief Minister will take the oath of office on the 10th of next month.

Patnaik’s 24-year tenure is the second longest for a chief minister in any Indian state, following Pawan Kumar Chamling of Sikkim. He first assumed office as Odisha’s Chief Minister on March 5, 2000. Before that, he served as the Union Minister of Steel and Mines from 1998 to 2000 and represented Aska in the Lok Sabha from 1997 to 2000.

In December 1997, Patnaik founded the Biju Janata Dal after splitting from the Janata Dal. The BJD, in alliance with the BJP, won a majority in the 2000 Odisha Assembly elections. Patnaik subsequently resigned from the Union Cabinet to become the Chief Minister of Odisha.

Patnaik’s resignation marks the end of a significant chapter in Odisha’s political history. His leadership brought stability and development to the state, with a focus on welfare schemes and infrastructure projects. Odisha witnessed significant growth in various sectors, including agriculture, education, and healthcare, during his tenure.

As Odisha prepares for a new government, the incoming leadership will have big shoes to fill. This marks the end of a significant chapter in Odisha’s political history with Patnaik’s resignation, paving the way for a new leadership in the state.