As Odisha gears up for its state legislative elections scheduled in four phases from May 13, all eyes are on the Hinjili Assembly constituency, which holds significant political importance as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik seeks an unprecedented sixth consecutive term. Hinjili's prominence stems from Patnaik's consistent victories, despite a decline in the BJD's vote share in recent years.
Other notable constituencies include Sambalpur, where Jayanarayan Mishra, the Leader of the Opposition, won in 2019, sparking speculation about his daughter's potential candidacy due to his health issues. Chandbali is also noteworthy as the home base of BJP state president Manmohan Samal.
In the Lok Sabha elections, key constituencies like Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Sundergarh, Puri, and Koraput will play significant roles. Bhubaneswar, traditionally a BJD stronghold, saw the BJP's Aparajita Sarangi's victory in the last election. Sambalpur, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, speculated to contest for the BJP, holds importance as the primary town in the western region of the state.
Sundergarh, represented by former Union minister and BJP stalwart Jual Oram, has consistently eluded the BJD's grasp. Puri, a coastal constituency, witnesses intense competition between the BJP and BJD, while Koraput, historically a Congress bastion, saw a Congress victory in 2019, despite the BJD's previous successes. These constituencies will shape Odisha's political landscape as it heads to the polls.
