PUBLISHED: 10 Feb 2025, 11:09 PM IST
LAST UPDATE: 10 Feb 2025, 11:09 PM IST
Arvind Kejriwal and Naveen Patnaik
In a notable shift, the political landscapes of Odisha and New Delhi have seen unexpected changes with both states moving away from their established governance. The 2024 Odisha Assembly election and the 2025 Delhi Assembly election have shown parallels in their impacts and outcome.
The sizeable Odia community in Delhi, numbering over 5,00,000, might be particularly attentive to these changes in Odisha, given their ties to the State through both employment and education.
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However, over the past decade, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced challenges in retaining the confidence of its voters. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) success in Delhi is credited to the deft leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with noteworthy contributions from Baijayant Panda, the party’s National Vice-President and a prominent leader from Odisha.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha and AAP in Delhi have both contended with issues relating to corruption and public image, specifically their liquor policies. Although both parties have worked towards development, they have struggled to meet the public’s expectations for integrity and transparency.
The AAP, established in October 2012, sought to distinguish itself by recruiting professionals outside the traditional political sphere. However, internal discord emerged even before it could fully implement its governance ambitions, resulting in the departure of several key members.
The anti-corruption ethos once championed by Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi and Naveen Patnaik in Odisha initially won broad public support. Nonetheless, accusations of corruption led to their eventual downfall.
While Delhi’s initiatives in education, electricity provision, healthcare, and transport for women were significant, they were hampered by controversies, including a scandal concerning the city’s liquor policy.
The construction of Kejriwal’s official residence criticised as a ‘palatial house’, damaged his anti-corruption reputation. Similarly, BJD in Odisha faced accusations of corruption related to mining operations and chit fund scandals, affecting Patnaik’s political standing.
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Alcohol policy emerged as a contentious issue in both states. The expansion of liquor shops met considerable opposition from women’s rights advocacy groups, while the national uproar over Delhi’s liquor scandal prompted widespread debate.
The BJP stepped forward as the dominant opposition in both Odisha and Delhi, poised to leverage what it terms as the failures of the incumbent parties. Despite the Congress party’s weakened presence and lack of alliances in these regions, the evolving political dynamics remain significant.
By Dillip Sabat
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