Bhubaneswar: The BJP has surged ahead of its rivals as it was leading in 80 out seats, whereas the ruling BJD was in second position and leading in 12 seats and the Congress in five seats after the initial round of counting, officials said.
Till 12 PM, BJP crossed the magic number of 74 and was leading in 80 MLA seats while BJD was leading in 53 seats, Congress at 17, CPI (M)—1 and two independent candidates leading on a seat.
The BJP has secured 40.87 percent votes, while 40.28 percent votes goes to the BJD kitty and Congress got only 12.37 percent votes.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is trailing with 195 votes against his rival BJP’s Laxman Bag in Kantabanji. Patnaik got 11,341 votes while Bag got 11,536 votes. However, the CM was leading in the Hinjili Assembly seat with 2157 votes.
BJP candidate Irasis Acharya is leading in Bhatli MLA seat against his rival BJD nominee and former minister Susanta Singh and Bibhuti Bhusan Jena in Gopalpur seat.
Assembly Speaker and BJD leader Pramila Mallik is leading in Binjharpur, Minister Jaganath Saraka leading in Bissam Cuttack, and BJD’s Mahesh Sahoo leading in Hindol.
Former Congress president Niranjan Patnaik is leading from Bhandaripokhari, Bhakta Charan Das’s son Sagar Charan Das is leading in Bhawanipatna. However, Bhakta is trailing from Narla seat.
CPI (M) candidate and sitting MLA Laxman Munda is leading in Bonai Assembly constituency. Independent candidate Soumya Ranjan Patnaik is leading in Ghasipura MLA seat against BJD nominee Badri Narayan Patra