Bhubaneswar: Even as celebrations continued in the BJD, party's newly elected MLA from Bijepur, Rita Sahu, on Friday met chief minister Naveen Patnaik at his official residence here to seek his blessings.

Ministers Sushant Singh and Snehangini Chhuria and other senior leaders accompanied the new MLA to Naveen Nivas.

"I sought his blessings and he advised me to serve the people of Bijepur. I will try my best to resolve the problems of the constituency with focus on better drinking water supply and improving the condition of weavers," said Rita adding that she would try her best to fulfill the dreams of her husband, Subal Sahu, a Congress MLA whose death last August had necessitated the bypoll in the constituency.

Former minister and senior BJD leader Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said the party's massive victory in Bijepur reflected the tremendous faith that the people had in the leadership of Naveen.

"He and his government have done so much for the state. Our party, too, has done a lot of good work," said the former health minister, who had campaigned extensively in the Bijepur constituency.

BJD general secretary Sanjay Das Burma echoed similar feelings. "People in Bijepur voted overwhelmingly in our favour as our government's good work has helped improve the standard of their life. They rejected the politics of money and hatred and opted for development," said Das Burma.

The mood in the BJP, on the other hand, was downbeat with leaders emphasising the need for introspection. Party's national secretary, Suresh Pujari said the bypoll result could be a blessing in disguise if the party seriously tried to identify its deficiencies and overcome them.

"We should introspect and sort out our problems. This will help us emerge stronger in the next general elections," said Pujari.

The Congress, whose candidate Pranay Sahu lost his deposit in Bijepur, seems to be in tatters. While Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan has sent in his resignation to AICC president Rahul Gandhi owning responsibility for the defeat, there is speculation about his successor as few would like to take up the job at this juncture when the party appears to be at a crossroads.

Confirming Harichandan's resignation, former minister Suresh Kumar Routray, who also happens to be his father-in-law, blamed a group of party leaders for Congress's defeat in Bijepur. He alleged that they had deliberately worked against the party's interest in the constituency as they wanted to unseat Harichandan.

While senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik, who is widely perceived to be a top contender for the post of the state president, refused to comment on Routray's allegations. He said the entire party leadership should own up the responsibility for the Bijepur debacle.