Naveen sees chinks in BJD panchayat results

ODISHA CHIEF Minister Naveen Patnaikonmondaysaidheisconfident that the Biju Janata Dal will get a thumping majority in the 2019 Assembly elections, but accepted that the party needed some course correction after underperformanceinsomedistricts.

Patnaik’s comment came a day after Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan said BJP is set to come to power in the state.

“Iamgratefultothepeoplefor reposing their faith in BJD and retaining it as the largest party with absolutemajority,with56percent of seats,” Patnaik said, a day after thestateelectioncommissionannounced the results of the panchayat polls in which the BJP has seenitsseatsharejumpfrom4per cent to 35 per cent.

BJP spokesperson Sajjan Sharma said people had voted for change and the verdict would becomeclearerforthepartyin2019.