As the BJP reviewed its 2024 Lok Sabha results, Odisha offered some reassurance. The party defeated its former ally, the Biju Janata Dal, which had governed since 2000, and gained its first major foothold in an eastern state. This lead has held steady. Months before the 2027 panchayat elections, the BJP faces no visible challenge on the ground. The BJD now occupies a weak position after more than twenty years of dominance, while the Congress remains ineffective. A new regional party launched by a former Congress legislator has made little headway, and rumours of a breakaway group from the BJD proved unfounded. The upcoming local polls will test whether the BJD can recover and whether other options can appear. The BJP benefits from the absence of strong alternatives. Author-journalist Ruben Banerjee noted that public support for the state government is low and that no viable third force has emerged. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, a tribal leader from Keonjhar, has yet to gain broad acceptance, though he maintains backing from central leaders and the RSS. Internal party tensions persist, with some senior figures resisting his appointment. For the BJD, former secretary V K Pandian remains influential despite criticism over the 2024 defeat. Party members say his continued role raises doubts about future direction, yet the organisation retains its cadre base. The BJD kept a 40.22 percent vote share in the 2024 assembly elections, nearly matching the BJP. Historical precedent shows regional parties have often succeeded in Odisha. Cross-voting in recent Rajya Sabha polls has fuelled speculation about new political formations.
