Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by incumbent Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is still maintaining a comfortable lead in most of the Lok Sabha constituencies after several rounds of counting of votes, which began at 8 AM under unprecedented security in Odisha. However, a close fight continues between the ruling BJD and the BJP. Patnaik’s party is currently ahead in 11 seats, BJP on 10.
Meanwhile, PM Narendra Modi has congratulated Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his party’s spectacular showing in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state. One hundred and seventy-four candidates are in the fray in the Lok Sabha election in Odisha.
The final results are likely to be delayed in view of Supreme Court’s order to the Supreme Court’s instructions to the EC to match the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with five EVMs per assembly segment.
