Survey puts BJD ahead in LS poll race

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janta Dal (BJD) is likely to win 10-16 seats, BJP 3-7, Congress 0-4 and Others 0-2 out of 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha, showed opinion poll survey done by CNN-IBN-Lokniti-CSDS national election tracker.

Naveen Patnaik-led BJD is likely to get 34 per cent votes and BJP is likely to get 30 per cent of the votes, the survey pointed out. Congress is projected to get 26 per cent votes. Newcomer AAP is expected to garner just 1 per cent votes and others remaining 9 per cent votes, it added.

There is a close contest between the BJD and BJP in coastal Odisha. In Western part of the state, the ruling BJD is leading comfortably. In southern Odisha, Congress is leading the race and the BJD is in second place.

When it comes to Lok Sabha vote preference, BJP is doing very well in urban areas with 36 per cent support. BJD has 33 per cent and Congress has 31 per cent support. In rural areas 34 per cent backing BJD whereas BJP has 29 per cent and Congress 25 per cent support, it hinted.

As per the survey, the Upper castes are mostly with the BJP, the OBCs mostly with the BJD, Dalits and Tribals split between all parties.

Meanwhile, in the State Assembly elections Naveen Patnaik is the most preferred choice for the CM post and his party is way ahead in the Vidhan Sabha race. A whopping 58 per cent of the respondents back Naveen Patnaik for the post of the chief minister. Congress leaders Jaydev Jena and Srikant Jena have just 4 per cent backing respectively.

Odisha goes to Lok Sabha and Assembly polls simultaneously on April 10 and 17.