Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has achieved a sweeping victory in the recently held Assembly elections in Odisha. The party secured a majority of votes, winning 78 out of 147 constituencies, which led to the displacement of Navin Patnaik from power after his 24-year tenure as the state’s leader. This outcome marks a significant turning point in Odisha’s political landscape.
Notably, the Assembly elections also witnessed the historic won of Sofia Firdous, a Muslim woman, who secured the Cuttack seat. This victory makes her the first woman Muslim MLA in the history of Odisha since Independence.
Also Read | Dhruv Rathee factor? YouTuber ruined BJP game in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections
Sofia Firdous emerged triumphant in a close contest against Purna Chandra Mahapatra from the BJP, with a margin of 8001 votes. She replaced her father, Mohammed Moquim, who was the sitting MLA from the Barabati-Cuttack seat.
In addition to the state-level elections, the Lok Sabha elections across the country saw 15 Muslim candidates successfully securing seats in the lower house. Among them, Yusuf Pathan, a former Indian cricketer and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) nominee, secured a comfortable victory over Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in the Baharampur bastion.
These election results reflect a significant shift in Odisha’s political landscape and showcase the diverse representation and achievements of individuals from different backgrounds in India’s democratic process.
