‘Couldn’t counter BJP’s false narratives’ – months after defeat, Naveen Patnaik breaks silence on BJD’s election debacle

“The BJP has secured fewer votes than us despite telling so many lies. It was our mistake that we couldn’t counter their (BJP) falsehood properly. We couldn’t counter their negative campaign and false narratives in social media,” Patnaik said — his first such statement on his party’s defeat.

Patnaik’s statement came a day after senior BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh advocated Bharat Ratna for Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Patnaik for their “development works” towards their states.

Stating that people have realised that the BJP has “grabbed power by telling lies”, Patnaik urged the workers to remain active on social media to “give a befitting reply to the false narrative of BJP”.

The regional party, which ruled the state for 24 years from March 2000 till June 2024, was dislodged by the BJP which won 78 of total 147 assembly seats while BJD’s numbers reduced to 51. The Patnaik-led party failed to win a single Lok Sabha seat as BJP swept with 20 of total 21 seats. In assembly polls, the BJD, however, got 40.22 percent vote share compared to 40.07 percent secured by the BJP.

Amid frequent taunts from the BJP about the fate of BJD, Patnaik described the party’s future as “very bright, as it’s associated with the emotions of people of Odisha”.

“The BJD and the conch (party’s election symbol) has remained in the heart of the people forever. BJD will continue to serve the people of Odisha for the next 100 years. We will continue our fight for Odisha’s interest against Centre’s injustice,” the former CM said.

While listing his government’s success in the past 24 years, Patnaik took a dig at the BJP government in the state saying their biggest achievement in the past six months is “inflation” and “skyrocketing” price of essential goods. “When will the government wake up from its deep slumber?” he asked.

Speaking to reporters outside on Singh’s proposal for Bharat Ratna, Patnaik said he had no idea why he made such a statement. When asked about his successor in the BJD, he said was going to be there for “a long time” and hadn’t thought about it yet.