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Bhubaneswar: A day after BJP state president KV Singhdeo said his party will not be part of any alliance in Odisha for the ensuing elections, the Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) chief Pyarimohan Mohapatra on Thursday blamed Biju Janta Dal (BJD) especially Naveen Patnaik for sabotaging his plans for a grand alliance with the support from BJP.
Mohapatra alleged some leaders in the national party are hand in glove with chief minister Naveen Patnaik and creating hindrances in the alliance formation.
"As Naveen does not want the Mahamenta (grand alliance) against BJD, with the help of a few leaders from the saffron party he is playing games to fulfill his goals," said the OJM chief.
However, Mohapatra does not see it end of roads. He hinted a grand alliance would definitely take shape in the state with the help of a national party despite BJP's denial for any such plans.
"I'm still hopeful that a Mahamenta will be formed against BJD in the state. BJP is not the only national party," he added.
Mohapatra's statement came barely two days after the BJP central leader Chandan Mitra held talks with leaders of two small parties on a possible anti-BJD front. However, Mitra's efforts failed as the state unit of BJP and its president K V Singhdeo categorically rejected the idea.
"We are not in favour of any alliance with any party. However, if any leader wants to join the BJP, we will welcome him," Singhdeo said, adding that the party would contest the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections on its own strength.
Meanwhile, state BJP feigned ignorance about the OJM chief's new findings.
"As far as I know none of us is in touch with Naveen Patnaik. At the same time, how would I know if somebody does something secretly," said Biswa Bhushan Harichandan, a senior BJP leader.
BJD underplayed the Pyari's fresh allegations against it and said the party has nothing much to talk about.
"After being expelled from BJD, nobody wants to get associated with him. On this issue our party does not have any role to play," said health minister Damodar Rout emphatically.
