Haze still lingers over BJP-BJD alliance speculations

Amid speculations about discussions on a possible alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), no clear picture has emerged yet even as some BJP leaders have been camping in New Delhi for the last three days after dismissing coalition talks. 

Speculations about a possible BJP-BJD coalition cropped up after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting at Chandikhole. Political circles wonder why the speculated deal between the two parties is failing to see its conclusive end.   

Amid this, a statement by the ruling BJD leader Parsuram Dhada has further added the grist to the mill. 

“We are in no dilemma about the alliance. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has always taken initiatives in the larger interests of the people and the state. Alliance is not a new thing and it has happened in the past and will happen,” he said. 

He also added, “In case of an alliance, it is natural that some aspirants will have to be left out and there is no doubt about it. But they will be rehabilitated in the future. The post of a legislator is not the only one, there are several posts in the party.” 

“We will abide by whatever decision will be taken by the party supremo. But the Chief Minister is keeping a close watch on the developments. A decision to this effect will be taken after consulting both parties, senior leaders of our party and the people after all,” he made it clear.

On the other hand, like some senior BJP leaders, legislator Suryavanshi Suraj termed the buzz around the coalition as speculations in the media. “Speculation about the alliance is only in the media. We have no news about alliance talks. The president of a party’s state unit and the party’s state in-charge have already made their stand clear. ”he said.

As per reports, speculation is rife about a seat-sharing formula for Lok Sabha and Assembly seats. Both the BJP and BJD are said to be working on a 13:8 seat allocation in Lok Sabha and 49:98 for Assembly seats. 

The other formula that is doing the rounds is 14:7 and 56:91 for LS & Assembly seats, respectively.  

It is said that the BJD may likely keep the LS seats of Kakatpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Cuttack, Berhampur, Aska, Kandhamal, and Koraput while the BJP may want 13 LS seats of Bhubaneswar, Puri, Dhenkanal, Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhnaj, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Bolangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi and Nabarangpur.

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It is also said that both parties are unable to agree on a formula while the BJD is said to be demanding more than 100 Assembly seats. 

"The BJP leader also added that following the internal democracy of our party, I have no need to say more about it when our top leaders have already cleared the haze on the alliance buzz. I can say only after the top leadership takes any decision,” added.

As for the meeting of five party MLAs at the residence of Opposition chief whip Mohan Majhi, he said that the meeting was routine one.     

BJP leader Nauri Naik said, "The BJP is always ready to face polls. Our top leaders – Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and National President JP Nadda will take the right decision for the betterment of the party and the state.”  

Meanwhile, the Congress criticized both the BJP and the BJD amid alliance speculations. Senior Congress leader Srikant Jena said, “Let alone the claimed benefits for the state from the alliance; going by the reaction of the people, I see that they are shocked over the possibility of a coalition between the ruling party and the opposition.”

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For such an alliance, people will not forgive them, Jena added.

Senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty said, "Both the parties have been working on it. We don’t think the alliance talks are stuck on figures only. There are reservations in the BJP and the BJD on the candidates. There is also a tug of war in certain seats. The BJD is unwilling to spare some seats.”