The battle for Odisha is set to begin with first phase polling on Monday in four Lok Sabha seats and 28 Assembly constituencies.

While Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is trying to retain power in the state with a sixth straight term for the chief minister, the BJP charged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s blistering campaign is hoping to form a government in the state for first time on its own.

While Modi has invited people to come to Bhubaneswar to be a part of the swearing-in ceremony of a BJP chief minister on June 10, the BJD has invited people to come to Naveen’s swearing-in-ceremony on June 9.

With knives out, the BJP and the BJD, the friends turned foes, are set to face each other in the elections on Monday. The BJP is in the electoral fray with the slogan “You have given 50 years to Congress and 25 years to BJD. Just give five years to the BJP. We will make Odisha the number one state in the country.” The BJP is fighting the election saying the administration in Odisha has been outsourced and Odisha is craving for a change.

On the other hand, the BJD with a string of welfare measures and promises, is on the electoral fray with the slogan “Don’t give votes to the tourists and to those who remember Odisha during polls only”, referring to the BJP leaders visiting to the state during the election time and campaigning for the candidates.

To give a push to its electoral prospects the Prime Minister will be visiting Odisha for the third time this month. He will also hold a roadshow in Puri on May 20. It's going to be a no-holds-barred battle between the BJP and the BJD this time.

Both the parties are in a fight to keep the “Odia pride” intact. While the BJP and the BJD are engaged in a fierce battle, the Congress is ready to bring surprises in the tribal belt of Koraput, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi.

The first phase of elections will be held on Monday in four Lok Sabha constituencies — Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Berhampur — and all the Assembly segments under these four Assembly constituencies.

On Monday, the Lok sabha candidates whose fates are going to be decided are Draupadi Manjhi (Congress), Malvika Keshari Deo (BJP) and Lambodhar Nial from BJD for Kalahandi seat. The fate of Pradesh Congress president Sarat Pattanyak, contesting from Nuapada Assembly seat under Kalahandi Lok Sabha, will also be decided.

In Nabarangpur, a triangular fight will be there among Congress’s Bhujbal Manjhi, BJP’s Balabhadra Majhi and BJD’s Pradeep Majhi.