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Following back-to-back setbacks in Odisha panchayat and Urban Local Body (ULB) polls, the State unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly eyeing an organisational overhaul with leaders and MPs meeting the National leadership in Delhi.
In a series of meetings which began a few days ago, the party General Secretaries from Odisha met with BJP President JP Nadda. Eventually, State BJP MLAs discussed issues with Union ministers. And it finally culminated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting the BJP MPs on Thursday.
The meeting with Odisha MPs and Ministers assumes significance as it was held in the backdrop of the recently-concluded Panchayat and Municipal Elections which were swept by the ruling BJD.
Sources said the prime concern of the saffron party lies with its failure to convert its vote share (Almost 30 per cent) into seats in both elections.
Pertinent to mention here that the BJP has a vote share of 30 per cent in Panchayat elections while it received 29 per cent vote share in chairpersons and 27 per cent in councillor elections.
Out of all the meetings, PM Modi’s meeting with the MPs was the highlight of Odisha BJP leaders in Delhi. Inviting them for breakfast, Modi asked the MPs and Ministers to work for strengthening the party organisation at the grassroots. Modi also asked the leaders to work towards ‘Sab Ka Saath, Sab Ka Vikas’ and ensure that the Centre’s developmental works and schemes reach people as well as all beneficiaries.
Suresh Pujari, BJP MP from Bargarh told OTV, “PM Modi asked us to connect with people from the grassroots level and identify their problems. He also told us to act as a bridge to bring all the Central welfare schemes to the doorstep of the poor.”
Basanta Panda, another BJP MP from Kalahandi said, “All the issues including what should be our role were discussed. The Prime Minister also enquired about how we are working on the ground. The PM is keen on involving activists and workers in various upcoming events.”
All BJP MPs and Ministers from Odisha and three other States- Delhi, Haryana and Uttarakhand were hosted by the Prime Minister as part of a strategy to discuss issues. Modi has been hosting MPs and Ministers of different States at regular intervals.
The Congress party has been alleging a hidden agreement between the BJP and BJD with the latter extending its support to all the bills the former brings into the Parliament and in return the Centre’s soft approach to the Odisha government.
However, as per some political analysts, the Centre’s approach towards Odisha will probably change once the election for President and Vice-President gets over.
