Speculations of a possible announcement of an alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) today, have warmed up the political atmosphere in Odisha.
Ahead of the upcoming general elections 2024, if an alliance is formed, it will be after a gap of 15 years that the BJD will return to the NDA fold. However, it is still unclear whether the parties will come to any consensus for any alliance. As per sources, a discussion is probably going on between BJD and BJP over seat sharing. It is said that the BJD might get a majority of Assembly constituency seats while the BJP may opt for more Lok Sabha seats.
Such alliance speculations are rife as senior BJP leaders have been called to Delhi by the senior leadership for a crucial meeting this evening. Similarly, senior leaders of BJD have also been called by the Odisha Chief Minister and the party chief Naveen Patnaik to discuss several issues.
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Though both BJD and BJP leaders refuted alliance possibilities in the past, the recent developments have again reignited the coalition possibility. Both the crucial meetings by the BJP and the BJD have sparked coalition rumours in Odisha.
It is being said that several issues including seat sharing might be discussed. However, things are likely to get cleared only after an official announcement.
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The speculations assume ground as the camaraderie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was seen during the former’s Odisha visit on Tuesday. PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress and INDIA alliance but refrained from making any attack on the BJD during a public meeting at Chandikhole yesterday.
Besides, both PM Modi and CM Patnaik praised each other during an official programme in Jajpur yesterday.
(By OdishaTV Bureau)