A meeting of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders was convened at Naveen Niwas on Thursday. According to sources, many senior leaders and district observers took part in the meeting. A total of 28 leaders were present in the meeting.
Amid the growing suspense over the alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), today's meeting was considered important by the political observers. However, when asked, the leaders were tight-lipped about the possible tie-up with the BJP.
After the meeting, BJD vice president Debi Mishra said, “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has collected district-wise and constituency-wise reports. Senior workers and district observers were present in the meeting. The meeting also discussed poll strategies and preparations. The Chief Minister also gave his suggestions.”
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When asked by the media if the meeting featured any discussion on the alliance with the BJP, Mishra tactfully parried the question.
Amid the speculations on the possible alliance with the BJP, this was the second meeting of the BJD top leaders after March 6 when they met for the first time, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Odisha.