Bhubaneswar: With speculations rife over the BJP-BJD alliance ahead of general elections, the parties today held crucial meetings in Odisha and Delhi respectively.
The BJD issued an official statement saying that the party will do everything to achieve the larger interests of the people of Odisha.
According to a BJD press note, an extensive discussion was held under the leadership of BJD President and CM Naveen Patnaik with the Party’s senior leaders today regarding the strategy of the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections.
“In the discussions, it was resolved that since by 2036, Odisha will complete 100 years of its statehood and BJD and CM have major milestones to be achieved by this time, BJD will do everything towards this in the greater interests of the people of Odisha and the State,” said BJD Senior Vice President Debi Prasad Mishra after the meeting at Naveen Niwas.
“Some senior leaders have discussed many things with the party president for the interest of the party and 4.5 crore people. Biju Janata Dal is taking a decision,” BJD Senior General Secretary Arun Kumar Sahoo told media on reports of the conch party allying with the BJP ahead of General Elections 2024.
This statement indicates that BJP and BJD are going to contest the elections in alliance.
Meanwhile, the statement of BJP MP and former Union Minister Jual Oram, who was a part of the BJP’s crucial meeting in New Delhi today, has also fueled the assumptions of an alliance.
“Discussion was held on various matters including election and alliance in Odisha. We have proposed to fight alone. But, the central leaders will decide on the alliance,” said Oram.
BJP’s Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and national spokesperson Sambit Patra were also present in the core committee meeting of the BJP chaired by National President JP Nadda. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present.
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) held the meeting under the chairmanship of party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patanaik at his residence Naveen Niwas. Top leaders including party organisational secretary Pranab Prakash Das, MPs Manas Mangraj & Sasmit Patra, Ministers Tukuni Sahoo, Ashok Chandra Panda, Ranendra Pratap Swain, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Snehangini Chhuria, Usha Devi, Bikrama Keshari Arukha, Prasanna Acharya, Priti Ranjan Ghadai, Debi Mishra, Arun Sahoo and Jagannath Saraka were present.
