bjp-ahead-in-50-assembly-seats-bjd-leads-in-35

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has taken early leads in at least 50 assembly seats in Odisha, according to the Election Commission of India.

 

Meanwhile, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) was ahead in 35 constituencies out of the 94 for which early trends were available until 10:30 am.

 

The Congress was leading in seven seats, and the CPI (M) in one, while an Independent candidate was also ahead, stated Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nikunja Bihari Dhal.

 

Several Odisha ministers were trailing in their respective constituencies.

 

However, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was leading in Kantabanji by a narrow margin of 158 votes over his nearest rival, Laxman Bag of the BJP.

 

Finance Minister Bikram Arukha, Forest and Environment Minister PK Amat, Science and Technology Minister Ashok Panda, Water Resources Minister Tukuni Sahu, Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Mallick, and Planning and Coordination Minister Rajendra Dholakia were among those trailing.

 

The counting of votes is underway in 70 centres across the state, with 18-19 rounds of counting expected for each seat.

 

Assembly Speaker and BJD leader Pramila Mallik was leading in Binjharpur, while Minister Jagannath Saraka was ahead in Bissam Cuttack, and BJD's Mahesh Sahoo was leading in Hindol.

 

CPI (M) candidate and sitting MLA Laxman Munda was leading in the Bonai assembly constituency.

 

Independent candidate Soumya Ranjan Patnaik was leading in the Ghasipura MLA seat over BJD nominee Badri Narayan Patra.