New Delhi [India], After predicting a landslide victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, exit polls on Sunday predicted a close contest in the state after two decades of rule. Biju Janata Dal led by Naveen Patnaik is facing a tough challenge from BJP.

The exit poll has predicted an increase in BJP's vote share, while Congress is expected to remain in third place with around 4 percent vote share.

According to Axis My India exit poll, BJD and BJP are expected to get 62-80 seats in the 147-member Odisha Assembly. Congress is expected to win 5 to 8 seats.

The exit poll further said that BJP is expected to get 48 percent vote share, while BJD is expected to get 42 percent vote share. In the 2019 assembly elections, Naveen Patnaik-led BJD registered a landslide victory by winning 112 out of 147 seats.State. Patnaik took oath as Chief Minister for the fifth consecutive time since 2000. In 2019, BJP won 23 seats and Congress managed to win nine seats.

Voting for the state assembly seats was held in four phases from May 13 to June 1, along with the Lok Sabha elections.

Exit polls on Saturday predicted that the BJP-led NDA's seats in Odisha are expected to double in the Lok Sabha elections.According to Republic Mark's exit poll, NDA is likely to get 14 out of 21 seats and BJP is expected to win. Up to eight seats.

News18 Mega Exit Poll estimates that NDA is likely to get 13-15 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. It was estimated that BJD was likely to get eight seats.

BJD maintained its strong presence in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by winning 12 out of 21 seats, although this is less than the 20 out of 21 seats it won in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Exit polls have also predicted that the NDA is set to retain power at the Center with a clear majority and register its third consecutive victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

According to exit polls, the ruling BJP-led NDA is expected to outperform its 2019 record when it had secured 352 seats.The BJP is also projected to improve its tally from the 303 seats it won in the 2019 general elections.

The BJP-led NDA improved its numbers in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections compared to the 2014 election. Once again it is expected to move upwards, as predicted by exit polls.

The 2024 Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases from April 19. Counting of votes will take place on June 4.