The ruling BJD led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has won nearly 90 per cent of the Zilla Parishad seats in Odisha. After this victory, the BJD on Sunday created history by forming councils in all the 30 districts of the state. According to the ruling party, 70 per cent of the Zilla Parishad presidents are women. She is heading the Zilla Parishads in 21 out of 30 districts. Major districts like Mayurbhanj, Ganjam, Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Bolangir and Sambalpur have women Zilla Parishad presidents.
BJD Vice President Devi Prasad Mishra said that for the first time in the history of Odisha and probably for the first time in the entire country, a single party has constituted Zilla Parishads in all the districts of the state. He said that the average age of Zilla Parishad Presidents is 41 years. Patnaik selected young and educated candidates with clean records to head the Zilla Parishads in all the districts. He said that 67 per cent seats (unreserved or women) of Zilla Parishad President are filled by Other Backward Classes (OBC) members.
Zilla Parishad President below 40 years of age in 15 districts
Of the thirty districts, 15 (or 50 percent) now have zilla parishad presidents below 40 years of age, while 23 (or 76 percent) of 30 districts have zilla parishad presidents below 50 years of age. In a major decision, Patnaik has elected young, educated and talented party workers as Zilla Parishad Presidents, apparently in view of the next general elections in 2024.
Elected as Panchayat Samiti President in 278 out of 314 Blocks
Meanwhile, the BJD said its members have been elected as panchayat samiti presidents in 278 out of 314 blocks in the state. The elections for the post were held on Friday. The BJP has won in 21 blocks, while the Congress has won 13 and the CPI(M) in three blocks. Overall, the BJD has won 88.5 per cent of the panchayat samiti president posts.