The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) won the Brajarajnagar by-poll, and political pundits had seen this coming. What they did not expect was the main opposition party the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finishing third.
In political corridors, that the BJP being relegated to third position by securing 5,200 votes less than the Congress received and losing its security deposit has currently been a matter of discussion.
Keeping the 2024 general election in view, the political analysts have advised both the Congress and BJP to mend their faults to take on the BJD.
“The Congress should not feel elated nor should the BJP feel despondent. Rather they should start rectifying their mistakes. Or else, the 2024 big game would be disappointing for them,” observed Prasanna Mohanty, a political analyst.
Meanwhile, the Saffron party has started brainstorming to find out where they went wrong. However, senior BJP leader Pradeep Purohit ascribed the party’s debacle to some party workers who are like wolves in sheep’s clothing.
“The number of votes polled for the BJP was unbelievable. It seems to me that some from within the party upset the apple-cart by supporting the BJD. It should be probed,” alleged Purohit.
On the other hand, senior BJP leader Mohan Majhi had something different to say.
“I think we had some flaws in floor management which proved fatal for us. This apart, the ruling party’s capitalizing on its machineries is also making a huge difference,” said Majhi.
On Congress finishing second in the by-poll, Purohit alleged that the BJD had not only funded the grand old party but also taken it upon itself to make it active in Brajarajnagar.
In his reaction, newly-appointed OPCC President Sarat Pattanayak, who has been in an upbeat mood for stripping the BJP of its rank, said the Congress is emerging as an alternative for both the BJD and BJP.
Terming the funding allegation as baseless, Pattanayak said, “If they prove that even a single of my workers had accepted money from them (BJD), then I would take no time to show him the door.”
When contacted, senior BJD leader Samir Dash refused to comment on Purohit’s remarks.
While the BJP’s performance has been disappointing, be it Bijepur by-election, panchayat poll, ULB poll or the recent Brajarajnagar by-poll; the Congress is basking in the glory of relegating the BJP to third position.