Naveen Patnaik Eyes Record As Longest Serving CM Amid Tight Odisha Election Race

A victory in the upcoming Assembly elections will secure Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik a place in the record books. As of June 2nd, Patnaik needs just 78 more days in office to become India's longest-serving Chief Minister, surpassing former Sikkim CM Pawan Chamling's record of 24 years and 167 days. However, the question remains: will Patnaik win another term? According to the India Today Axis My India exit poll, the contest in Odisha is a dead heat. The BJP holds a 3-point lead among male voters, while Patnaik's BJD enjoys a 3-point advantage among female voters. Both parties are banking heavily on their welfare schemes to sway voters in the final days of the campaign. The BJP has also raised concerns about Patnaik's health, accusing his trusted aide, former IAS officer V K Pandian, of angling to become his political successor. By emphasizing Pandian's Tamil roots, the BJP has played the Odisha pride card, but it remains to be seen how decisive this tactic will prove.