Bhubaneswar:The failure of the “Naveen Factor” in the Nuapada by-election is a complex outcome rooted in both local dynamics and the party’s new status as the opposition. For two decades, Naveen Patnaik’s personal popularity was a potent force that could often transcend local issues and organisational weaknesses, but several factors converged in Nuapada to break this spel.

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), still reeling from its loss of power after a two-decade-long rule, has faced a crushing setback in the crucial Nuapada by-election, finishing in a distant third place. This result is widely interpreted as a reflection of a severe organizational crisis within the party and a distinct failure to transition effectively into the role of opposition.

For 24 years, the BJD’s campaigns benefited from

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