Bhubaneswar, May 16 (IANS): Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday termed the spectacular performance of the Biju Janata Dal, led by him, as a victory of the people in the state.
Speaking to reporters after trends showed BJD was ahead on a whopping 112 assembly seats in the 147-member House, and 20 Lok Sabha seats out of the 21 in the state, Patnaik said "this is the victory of people of Odisha. We must humbly accept that".
"We will make all out efforts to continue our good work for our state," said Patnaik who is set to retain power in the state for a fourth straight term.
"Development programmes, welfare schemes, anti-poverty programme, works for tribal people who constitute a quarter of our population and the transparent and clean government given to Odisha have all contributed to the BJD doing so well," he said.
Replying to a question on the performance of the Bharatiya Janata Party elsewhere in the country, Patnaik said "they seem to have gained a tremendous victory in parliament. I do congratulate them."