In a major upset, the BJD may lose power in Odisha, which saw BJP inching towards the halfway mark.
Early trends indicated that the BJP has leads in at least 64 assembly seats in Odisha while the ruling BJD has managed to lead in just 44 seats. There are 147 Assembly seats in Odisha.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was trailing in Kantabanji, he maintained his lead in Hinjili, according to an EC update at 12 pm. Several Odisha ministers were trailing. 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, Planning and Coordination Minister Rajendra Dholakia were trailing.
While Congress was leading in 5 seats, CPI(M) was also leading in one seat after sitting MLA Laxman Munda was leading in Bonai assembly constituency. Independent candidate Soumya Ranjan Patnaik was leading in the Ghasipura MLA seat over BJD nominee Badri Narayan Patra.
Among prominent BJP leaders, Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan was leading by 13,085 votes over his nearest rival Pranab Prakash Das of the BJD.
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra was leading by 15,543 votes over his nearest rival Arup Patnaik of the BJD while Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi was leading over her nearest rival Manmath Routray of the BJD by a thin margin of 3,039 votes.
BJP national vice-president Baijayant Panda was leading over his nearest rival Ansuman Mohanty of the BJD by 890 votes.
