Government

In the 2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a majority by winning 78 out of 147 seats, marking a significant increase from their previous 23 seats. This victory ended the 24-year tenure of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which saw its representation decrease from 112 to 51 seats. The Indian National Congress (INC) improved slightly, obtaining 14 seats compared to 9 in the previous assembly. Notably, BJP's state president, Manmohan Samal, lost his contest in the Chandabali constituency. Subsequently, Mohan Charan Majhi, the MLA from Keonjhar, was sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of Odisha on June 12, 2024, with Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo and Pravati Parida serving as deputy chief ministers.

  • The election also highlighted a decrease in women's representation, with only 11 women elected, down from 14 in the previous assembly. Additionally, 85 winning candidates reported criminal cases in their pre-poll affidavits, an increase from 67 previously. The average age of the assembly members is 51 years, and 65% have at least an undergraduate education, a decline from 73% in the prior assembly.
  • Voter turnout was recorded at 74.79%, reflecting a 1.59% increase from the previous election. The BJP garnered 40.07% of the popular vote, while the BJD received 40.22%, and the INC obtained 13.26%.
  • This election marks a pivotal shift in Odisha's political landscape, transitioning from long-standing BJD dominance to a BJP-led government.

Legislative assembly

The Odisha Legislative Assembly operates as a unicameral legislature, comprising 147 elected members, along with special office bearers such as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, who are elected by the members themselves. The Speaker presides over assembly meetings, with the Deputy Speaker stepping in when necessary. Executive authority in the state is vested in the Council of Ministers, which is led by the Chief Minister. However, the Governor of Odisha serves as the titular head of government, appointed by the President of India. The Chief Minister is chosen by the Governor from the party or coalition that holds a majority in the Legislative Assembly, and the Council of Ministers is appointed based on the Chief Minister’s advice. These ministers are accountable to the Legislative Assembly. The elected representatives of the assembly are known as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), with one MLA potentially nominated from the Anglo-Indian community by the Governor. The assembly’s term lasts five years unless dissolved earlier. Odisha’s judiciary system includes the Odisha High Court, situated in Cuttack, along with a network of lower courts that handle legal matters across the state.