 president Naveen Patnaik has directed party workers to begin preparations for the 2027 panchayat and urban local){kind=link}
BJD chief Naveen Patnaik has asked party workers to prepare for the 2027 panchayat and urban local body elections
June 11, 2026: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik has directed party workers to begin preparations for the 2027 panchayat and urban local body elections. Addressing an organisational meeting attended mainly by candidates who lost the 2024 Assembly elections, Patnaik urged leaders not to lose confidence due to electoral setbacks or the departure of some party members. He also reviewed the party’s organisational strength across constituencies and gathered feedback on local issues.
Patnaik alleged that the law and order situation in Odisha had deteriorated since the BJP came to power. He claimed that incidents of murder, rape, robbery and crimes against women had increased, creating fear among the public. The former chief minister also criticised the state government’s handling of finances, alleging that Odisha’s debt had risen despite the BJD leaving behind a surplus of ₹45,000 crore when it exited office.
The BJD chief encouraged party workers to raise public issues, protect voter rights during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and make greater use of social media to reach people quickly. He also praised the party’s ‘Nari Adhikar Abhiyan’, stating that the campaign had received a positive response in 120 Assembly constituencies. Patnaik expressed confidence that the party could regain momentum through strong grassroots engagement ahead of the upcoming local body elections.