Amit Shah predicts BJP sweep in Odisha with over 75 assembly and 15 Lok Sabha seats

Rourkela: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday claimed that the BJP would secure over 75 assembly seats and 15 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. Odisha, which has 21 Lok Sabha and 174 assembly seats, is holding both elections simultaneously.

Speaking at a rally in Rourkela, Shah confidently stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had already won 270 Lok Sabha seats in the first four phases and was now on track to reach 400.

He emphasized that with over 15 MPs and 75 MLAs, Odisha would soon be “coloured saffron,” and this election was crucial for making Modi the Prime Minister for a third term.

Addressing the controversy over the missing keys of the Puri Jagannath Temple’s ‘Ratna Bhandar’, Shah accused Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of misleading the public and disrespecting their faith.

He asserted that this election was about restoring Odisha’s pride, language, culture, and tradition, and vowed that the BJP would end the current administration’s reliance on bureaucrats.

Shah promised that once the BJP comes to power in Odisha, the commission report on the Ratna Bhandar would be made public, and all four gates of the Puri Srimandir would be opened. He also criticized the current government’s handling of farmers’ issues, claiming that Odisha’s farmers have the lowest income in the country. The BJP, he said, would ensure they receive proper benefits and implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the state.

Furthermore, Shah highlighted that Modi was providing 5 kg of rice to each person, but accused Naveen Patnaik of misleading the public by claiming that the state government was providing an additional 2 kg of rice.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik held several rallies in Sambalpur and Angul where he campaigned for BJD candidates. He highlighted the schemes being implemented in the state and party’s manifesto.