Naveen Patnaik's 24-year tenure as the Chief Minister of Odisha has come to an end following the Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) unexpected defeat in the state assembly elections.
On Wednesday, Patnaik tendered his resignation to Governor Raghubar Das at the Raj Bhavan.
Despite the presence of numerous BJD leaders at his residence, Patnaik made the journey to the governor's house alone.
After submitting his resignation letter, he simply waved to the gathered journalists and promptly left the premises, eschewing any comments.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged victorious, securing 78 of the 147 assembly seats, thereby claiming a majority.
The BJD managed to secure only 51 seats, a significant drop from its previous standing.
The Congress party won 14 seats, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) secured one, and three Independent candidates were also victorious.
The election results, declared on Tuesday, mark a dramatic shift in Odisha's political landscape.
Naveen Patnaik first assumed office as the Chief Minister of Odisha on March 5, 2000.
His resignation marks the end of an era, as the state gears up for a new political chapter under BJP's leadership.
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