After the Panchayat and Urban Local Bodies elections, different political parties in Odisha have now set targets on the Assembly Polls to be held in 2024.
Especially, the State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which witnessed a surge in voting percentage but failed to acquire more number of seats, has started chalking out strategies for the Assembly elections with a view to secure more votes as well as increase the number of seats.
Meanwhile, the State leaders of the Saffron party have discussed with the party's Central leadership in New Delhi to prepare the future blueprints to ensure victory in the upcoming State elections.
BJP State general secretary and secretary met party national president JP Nadda on Saturday.
The State leaders also held discussions with Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Bishweswar Tudu to prepare the poll strategy.
The major focus of Nadda during the discussion with the party's working team was on the Panchayat and Urban poll results and Mission 2024. While the saffron party was able to achieve 30 percent votes in the Panchayat polls, it attained 29 percent in Chairman elections, and 27 percent in elections for Councillor posts. The prominent leaders held discussions to prepare strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections to gain maximum.
The discussion centred around preparing the blueprint of Mission 2024, strengthening the party and leaders and workers working united. Moreover, the discussion also included preparing the roadmap for awakening the public against the ruling State government and spreading awareness about Modi government's achievements. It was decided at the meeting that the Central leadership will majorly focus on Odisha and, to implement the strategies and chalk out plans, Nadda will visit Odisha soon and motivate the workers to act upon it.
The leaders also visited senior party leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Pradipta Naik, who is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Delhi. It is also believed that the saffron party will change the LoP soon.
BJP's State President Samir Mohanty said, "We were called by the party National President, including the General Secretary. We had a fruitful discussion over party's plans for future strategies."
Meanwhile, party State general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan said, "The discussion was based on Mission 2024. We will bring all the party leaders and workers together to work for the party's betterment."
On the other hand, after the colossal debacle of Congress, demands for changing party's State leadership has gained momentum.
"The Pradesh Congress Committee president has filed his resignation to AICC which is temporarily managing the party in the State. We request Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and AICC to take the decision soon or else the party's condition will worsen with time," said Adhiraj Panigrahi, Congress MLA.
Meanwhile, though BJD's performance was stupendous in the Panchayat and Urban elections, party leaders have suggested not to get overconfident with the achievement.
"There is no feud among party leaders or workers. No one is interested to take the leadership as it is only Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who takes the decisions. CM has initiated steps to ensure victory in areas where the party candidates tasted failure," said BJD MLA Bhagirathi Sethi.