Amid the ongoing speculations over a possible BJP-BJD alliance, senior BJP leader and Union Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that the national party is yet to take the final call on a coalition with the BJD in Odisha.
"We haven't decided yet on an alliance with BJD. Our party President will take a call on that. We are going to increase our strength in Odisha. BJP's Assembly and Lok Sabha seats will increase in the state. Love of people of Odisha for PM Modi is immense," said Shah at a private news channel's event in Delhi.
Shah further said that the BJP will shatter all the mathematics of the political pundits by winning more Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Odisha.
On being asked if the BJP could form the government in Odisha, Shah said, "Anything can happen but first let's see if we will fight alone or go along with the BJD... If we go alone, we will fight to form the government."
Earlier on Tuesday, Odisha BJP MLA Pradipta Naik said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is ready to fight in all the 147 Assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha.
“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.