New Delhi: Exuding confidence that BJP will win maximum number of Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, party’s national vice president Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda said Bharatiya Janata Party is growing in the State whereas the performance of other parties has come down massively.
While leaders of the Opposition have already started blaming EVM following exit poll projections, Panda during an interview with news agency ANI, criticised this saying it has become a tradition that whoever loses the poll blames EVM for the verdict.
“Either a candidate who loses poll files case alleging EVM errors or moves the Election Commission to lodge grievances or hold press conferences. This has become a tradition and no one should take it seriously. Such allegations are unfortunate as for more than three decades credibility of EVM and Election Commission have been established.”
Throwing light on the position of BJP in Odisha, Panda said “In Odisha, BJP is the only party which is growing. As per exit polls, performance of other parties has come down. BJP will win many Lok Sabha seats.”
Though in terms of Assembly constituencies, exit poll is mixed, we are confident of forming the government in Odisha, Panda emphatically said.
On the party’s chief ministerial candidate, Panda said, “When I joined the party, I had not laid out any conditions. I got lot of respect and made the party’s national vice president. I am happy being associated with the party. Dharmendra Pradhan is my friend. Other senior leaders like KV Singh Deo, Jual Oram and Pratap Sarangi are also present in the party. There is no dearth of talents in the party. Definitely we will work together as per the decision taken by the party and responsibility given to us. I am ready to take the responsibility given to me and would support others as well.”
On forming alliance with other parties at the Centre, Panda said “The issue has been addressed by party president Amit Shah. He said that the party is confident of winning more than 300 seats and the NDA will form government at the Centre under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. If other parties decide to join the NDA, we are open to it. I have no personal bias towards anything. Whatever the party decides and is in the interest of BJP and the country, I agree to that.”