On March 5, Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha, will complete 24 uninterrupted years in office. He formed the Biju Janata Dal party after leaving the Janata Dal in 1997. Similarly, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, formed the YSR Congress party after leaving the Congress.
Both leaders prioritize their own political templates. Patnaik was once part of the NDA but left to focus on his own party. Jagan has never been part of an alliance during the existence of his party.
Even though they split from other parties, neither Patnaik nor Jagan consider their former parties as major opponents. Both leaders have maintained cordial relationships with the ruling BJP.
Patnaik and Jagan are focused on retaining power in their respective states, without ambitions for national politics. As they prepare for the 2024 general elections, they are both determined to maintain their positions as Chief Ministers.
Patnaik faces little opposition in Odisha, while Jagan may have to contend with a potential alliance of TDP-Jana Sena-BJP in Andhra Pradesh’s upcoming elections.
