Naveen Patnaik resigns as Odisha CM after electoral defeat

Bhubaneswar, June 5: The longest serving Chief Minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday has tendered his resignation letter to Governor Raghubar Das at Raj Bhaban. 

After a remarkable 24-year tenure, BJD President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, one of India's longest-serving Chief Ministers, faced a drubbingt in the 2024 Assembly elections. Despite his longstanding leadership, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a former ally of the BJD, managed to disrupt Patnaik's winning streak with a resounding victory.

Worth mentioning, Naveen Patnaik led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has managed to win only 51 seats. Patnaik, who was contensting from Hinjili and Kantabanji, was also defeated from Kantabanji assembly constituency. 

Naveen Patnaik embarked on his political journey with a resounding victory in the 1998 Lok Sabha bypoll, where he secured victory in his father's constituency of Aska. This triumph marked the beginning of a remarkable career that would shape the political landscape of Odisha.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) achieved a significant milestone in the 2000 Assembly elections, forming a coalition with the BJP and securing a majority. In a pivotal moment, Patnaik chose to resign from his position in the Union Cabinet to assume the mantle of Chief Minister, steering Odisha towards a new era of governance.

Since assuming office, Patnaik has become one of the longest-serving Chief Ministers in India, second only to Sikkim's Pawan Kumar Chamling. His tenure has been characterized by a relentless focus on development and welfare, transforming Odisha into a beacon of progress under his visionary leadership.