Odisha's ex CM Naveen Patnaik
Bhubaneshwar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Chief Naveen Patnaik today put an end to speculations over the party's future leadership declaring that he would continue to lead the party in the next elections in 2029.Pushing 80, Naveen Patnaik, was Chief Minister of Odisha for a record 24 years, made the statement amid continuing political discussions over succession within the BJD following the party electoral debacle in 2024.
The BJP lost power to the BJP in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections and also suffered a major setback in the Lok sabha Polls, failing to win a single parliamentary seat.The BJP secured 20 of Odisha's 21 Lok Sabha seats, while the Congress won one.
Following the election results and amid public discussion surrounding his health, political circles had speculated about who Patnaik might choose as his successor within the party. For the last two years, Patnaik was not politically active and kept away from public glare.
Today,addressing a press conference at the party office, who presently serves as the leader of the opposition in the Odisha assembly, made it clear that he would remain at the helm of the BJD and lead the party into future elections, including 2029 assembly elections. Odisha is also scheduled to hold panchayat and municipal elections next year.
Further, Patnaik's remarks also came shortly after former IAS Officer Sujata Rout Karthikeyan formally joined the BJD, triggering speculation that she could be assigned a significant organisational role within the party.
However, dismissing such speculation, Patnaik said he welcomed Sujata Rout into the Biju Janata Dal and clarified that she would join the organisation as a party worker. He noted Sujata had served in several important administrative positions during her tenure as IAS officer and expressed confidence that over time, she would establish her own role within the party and contribute to public service.
