Bhubaneswar: With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerging as the largest party in Karnataka Assembly elections, political leaders in Odisha have engaged themselves in war of words over its possible impact on the eastern State’s politics.
Even though the saffron party today failed to achieve the magical figure to form the government, its leaders in Odisha unit were seen celebrating at the party headquarters here in Bhubaneswar.
BJP leaders in Odisha believe that the party’s figure in the Karnataka election is a testament to its ‘Congress Mukt Bharat’ mission and it will help them change the political landscape in Odisha.
“We won in Goa, Manipur and Tripura and now in Karnataka. It proves that people of India want BJP government for development and prosperity. BJP’s winning streak will continue; we will form government in Odisha too,” said senior BJP leader, Pratap Sarangi.
On the other hand senior BJD leader and Odisha Food Supplies and Consumer welfare minister, Surya Narayan Patro said that the Karnataka verdict will have no impact on Odisha.
“BJD has always been equidistance from both the BJP and the Congress. Whosoever forms the government in Karnataka, we have nothing to do with it as we know people of Odisha will not get affected by this result,” said Patro.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president, Niranjan Patnaik commenting on the party's poor performance in Karnataka and its impact in Odisha, said Karnataka election was just a result of anti-incumbency and it will not affect the party's prospects in Odisha.
“Congress definitely got less number of seats than expected in Karnataka but it has nothing to do with Odisha politics. If JDS agrees, Congress will form government in Karnataka,” said Patnaik.
Meanwhile, political experts in Odisha believe that with the Modi-Shah winning combination may bring about some change in the State’s political scenario.
"The combination of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah is a deadly one. There is no alternative to them and their strategies," said political analyst Rabi Das.