BJP ready to fight on all assembly, LS seats in Odisha; no talks on alliance: Lata Usendi

Amidst the speculation and confusion about whether there will be any alliance with the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP), co-in-charge for elections in Odisha Lata Usendi on Sunday added to the ongoing ambiguity. 

While talking to reporters, Lata said that such speculation is going on only in the media.

"We are ready to fight on all seats, be it assembly or Lok Sabha in Odisha and discussion was held on each seat in Delhi. A crucial meeting with party office bearers in Odisha will be held today," said Lata. When asked whether the BJP doesn't want an alliance with BJD, Lata said, "We are ready for all seats and no talks have been held."

On Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s remarks in a video shared on various social media platforms yesterday that rumours and lies are bad in politics, Lata said, "It is his own statement who is telling lies or not." 

On Saturday, BJP's election in-charge for Odisha Vijaypal Singh Tomar categorically stated that no BJD leader met him.

Earlier, it was said that two BJD leaders- 5T chairperson VK Pandian and BJD organizational secretary Pranab Prakash Das visited New Delhi in a special flight on Thursday evening, reportedly to carry forward the discussions with the BJP on the modalities of a coalition.