GG News Bureau
Bhubaneswar, 15th March. In a whirlwind of statements and actions, Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal stirred speculation regarding the party’s electoral strategy, particularly regarding a potential alliance with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ahead of the upcoming elections for the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly.
Earlier today, Samal had confidently asserted that the BJP would contest the elections solo, expressing determination to form the government independently in the state. This declaration followed his meeting with Union Minister Amit Shah in the national capital.
However, within hours, Samal’s tone shifted significantly, emphasizing that the decision of the party’s Parliamentary Party would be final in determining electoral alliances. He cautioned the media against forming narratives based on his earlier statement and promptly deleted a social media post echoing his initial assertion.
Samal’s flip-flopping stance came amidst ongoing discussions and speculation surrounding a potential pre-poll alliance between the BJP and the ruling BJD in Odisha.
The BJD, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has been deliberating on its electoral strategy, hosting senior party leaders at Naveen Niwas to discuss the evolving political landscape. Earlier discussions within the BJD had hinted at the possibility of an alliance with the BJP, with party leaders emphasizing the primacy of Odisha’s interests.
The dynamics of a potential alliance were further fueled by recent interactions between Odisha BJP leaders and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who sought the opinion of the party’s state leadership during a series of meetings in the national capital.
Sources reveal that the state BJP leaders highlighted the historical context of the BJP-BJD relationship, particularly the fallout following the Kandhamal riot in 2008, which led to the BJD severing ties with the saffron party ahead of the 2009 general elections.
With both parties mulling over their electoral strategies, the political landscape in Odisha remains fluid, with the possibility of alliances shaping the contours of the upcoming elections for both the Lok Sabha and the Odisha Assembly.
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