Polling for the State of Odisha’s 21 Lok Sabha constituencies took place in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh phases of the Lok Sabha election, on May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1. The total voter turnout was a substantial 75.68% in phase four, 73.50% in phase five, 74.45% in phase six, and 70.67% in phase seven.
The state also witnessed its State Assembly election simultaneously, where the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Indian National Congress (INC) have locked horns.
The main competition for Odisha’s Lok Sabha seats is expected to be between the regional party BJD and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Also fielding their candidates in all 21 constituencies is the INC-led Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). INDIA has fielded 20 INC candidates, along with one candidate representing the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM).
While Odisha has been a stronghold of BJD, the BJP has been seeing a steady growth in the state. While the BJD won 20 seats in 2014 and the BJP won only one, the number of seats won by the BJP in 2019 rose to eight. In 2019, the BJD won 12 seats, and the INC won one. This is also indicative of a larger picture of national parties gradually gaining power over regional parties across the country.
