By IANS,
New Delhi : Incumbent Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has emerged as the “most popular choice” to return to power in Orissa, according to an opinion poll.
The poll conducted by NDTV news channel says 72 percent of the people interviewed favoured the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief as the next chief minister.
“The BJD emerges as a strong winner both in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Navin Patnaik is likely to retain power to be the next chief minister with a 72 percent people in favour of him,” according to the poll.
At least 85 percent people in Orissa believe that the Patnaik government has done enough on development indicators like power, roads and water.
The BJD government has been in power for the last 10 years.
The survey shows the BJD and its allies may get 82 of the total 147 assembly seats. The Congress lags behind with 48 while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stands at a distant third with just 14 seats, according to the survey.
The BJD severed its 11-year-long ties with the BJP after their seat-sharing arrangement talks collapsed.