With suspense still continuing over the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Odisha Governor Raghubar Das on Monday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Odisha Governor termed his meeting with Shah as a courtesy call. However, the visit of the Odisha Governor has further escalated the ongoing debate and speculations that have been going on in the state regarding the alliance between BJD-BJP ahead of the crucial 2024 general elections.
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The visit assumes significance as senior Odisha BJP leaders including state party chief Manmohan Samal and others are already in Delhi. The BJP central leadership has called the state unit leaders and the in-charge of elections in Odisha to Delhi for a discussion which is likely to be held today.
Earlier, the state BJP president Samal had refuted any alliance talks with BJD and stated that the party would fight alone in the state.
Senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, “Though visit of Governors is a routine affair, the Odisha Governor’s meet with Union Home Minister Amit Shah assumes significance. Odisha Governor Raghubar Das had visited several places in the state and raked up several irregularities and lack of facilities in different parts. If Odisha Governor has submitted any report, it is believed that it would not have gone in favour of the Odisha administration.”
According to Mohanty, Odisha Governor’s visit at a time when the election is around the corner and the stalemate persists over alliance speculation, cannot be taken lightly.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and former state BJP president Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo said, “Our state leaders are in Delhi and we can say anything only after their return. We are disciplined party workers and soldiers who accept every decision in the interest of the nation or the party. The battle is not over till the last bullet is fired.”
When contacted over alliance speculation, BJD Minister Aswini Patra refused to comment on the issue. “If you (media) want me to speak on the Bengal issue I can say. But not on Odisha now,” said Patra.