Political heat, strained Centre-state relations, farmer suicides and the Mahanadi river water row marked the year 2017 in Odisha. In February, the ruling BJD emerged victorious in the panchayat elections. But the BJP put up a improved show with nearly a nine-fold jump in its performance compared to the 2012 rural polls, pushing the Congress to third position. The BJP's performance was equally impressive in zila parishads as it won eight of the 30 district councils. It did not have any zila parishad in its kitty in 2012.

After the rural elections, the state witnessed high- pitched political activities as both the BJD and the BJP geared up amid trading of charges with an eye on the upcoming urban bodies elections due in the new year. The Congress was dogged by disunity and infighting. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, however, was unfazed and said the BJD would review its performance "very seriously" apply suitable correctives both in terms of government and on organisational issues to ensure victory in 2019. However, BJP leaders like Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the rural poll results amply showed growing support for good governance by the Centre and loss of faith in the BJD due to misrule, corruption and inefficiency.