The ruling BJD received a huge jolt after getting second place in the NAC polls held in Attabira (Bargarh), Nuapada and Hindol (Dhenkanal). It is a positive sign for Congress, which emerged as the winner in the polls, ahead of the both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

While Congress won in 20 wards, BJD and BJP registered victory in 12 and wards respectively out of 42 wards of the Notified Area Councils (NACs), which were newly carved out. Congress bagged 6 seats in Attabira, 7 in Hindol and 7 in Nuapada in the polls held on April 3. However, BJD was placed second winning 6 in Attabira, 2 in Hindol and 4 in Nuapada. BJP won one seat in Attabira and 3 in Nuapada.

The poll results sent a negative message to the ruling BJD ahead of the general polls. The party workers may follow different political strategies under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik to get maximum seats in the assembly polls. For the first time, the BJD’s calculations were proved wrong after removal of Pyarimohan Mohapatra from the party.