Odisha Opinion Poll: BJP's jump in seat share likely to hurt Naveen Patnaik's sentiments

The BJP is likely to win 12 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, according to an opinion poll conducted by News Nation. The BJP is expected to show massive improvement than what it did in 2014 when it won just one seat. This time, the saffron party is likely to garner 34 per cent votes.

The jump in BJP’s seat share will affect Chief Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal’s performance which is expected to win nine seats in the upcoming polls against its 2014 tally of 20.

In its election manifesto for Odisha, which will vote in four phases, the BJP has promised interest free loans to small and marginal farmers, and sharecroppers.

The party which is gradually gaining popularity in the state promised to expand the “irrigation network in the state through a dedicated fund of Rs 100,000 crores over the next five years" and claimed that it will provide 95 per cent subsidy on solar pumpsets to all farmers.

BJP which won just 10 MLA seats in the 147 member assembly and one of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 has emerged as a strong opposition in the state ahead of 2019 elections.

However, Patnaik said he did not see the BJP making any significant impact, even though opinion polls suggest a BJP surge.

Assam will vote in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29.The counting of votes will be on May 23.