Amid the suspense over a possible BJP-BJD alliance ahead of the crucial 2024 elections, BJP MLA Pradipta Naik on Tuesday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is ready to fight in all the 147 Assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha.
The senior BJP leader further said that the party needs to keep its strategy ready for the upcoming polls. However, the state unit cannot decide anything as far as the alliance with the BJD is concerned.
Also Read: Odisha Elections 2024: BJD brainstorms on preparedness for Puri and Kendrapara LS seats
“The alliance can happen if only the BJP’s central unit, Prime Minister and National President want. Here in Odisha, nobody has the right to compromise with BJD. The BJP is ready to fight elections on its own and has already started its preparations,” said Naik.
Naik further said that whatever the state leaders decided in the recently concluded meetings, it will be apprised to the Central leadership. “Our National President and State president will take a call on the alliance matter,” he added.
In the last 15 days, the BJP leaders visited Delhi thrice. On Monday, the BJP leaders reportedly brainstormed on the strategies to fight the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Odisha.
The meeting was held in the presence of BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Organizational Secretary BL Santosh, National Vice President Baijayant Panda, Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, party's Odisha in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar and several other senior leaders.
Odisha BJP President, Manmohan Samal said, “Election is a serious issue. The meeting is all about election management.”
Meanwhile, the ruling BJD has also intensified its preparations for the upcoming polls. Two crucial meetings were held by the party leaders at Naveen Niwas on Monday where they brainstormed on the party’s strategies for the Puri and Kendrapara Parliamentary constituencies.
BJD leader Sudhir Samal said, "I have no idea about the alliance. Our party workers are looking after the organisation. All are ready to vote for the BJD.”