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ELECTIONS '96

Exit Poll: BJD/BJP, Congress neck and neck in Orissa

J B Patnaik is unlikely to keep his promise of a Congress sweep in Orissa, according to the Doordarshan Exit Poll.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-Biju Janata Dal combine and the Congress are running neck and neck in the state. The loser is the Janata Dal, which is not expected to open its account in the state, losing its present four seats, and a massive 28 per cent of the votes cast.

The Congress should win 11 seats, as per the exit poll, which is still a loss of five seats. In terms of vote percentage, it is neither a gain nor a loss from the previous 43 per cent.

The BJP-BJD alliance opens its account for the first time, winning 10 seats and 45 per cent of the votes cast. The latter represents a gain of 29 per cent from the last election.

The BJD was formed when Naveen Patnaik, son of the late Oriya titan Biju Patnaik, split from the Janata Dal, recently.

Elections '98

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