Karnataka results will have impact on other states: Cong

Bhubaneswar: Buoyed by a thumping win in Karnataka, the Congress on Thutsday said the poll results of the southern state will leave an impact on other states also, including Odisha.

Union Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Jitendra Singh said this after inaugurating a sports training centre in Koraput district.

"People have given an impressive victory to Congress in Karnataka. These results will have its impact on Odisha, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and other states," Singh said after inaugurating a HAL-SAI Sports Training Centre for tribals.

Singh's statement assumes significance in wake of the fact that Odisha goes to polls in 2014.

The Union Minister was among the four senior Congress leaders who are scheduled to go to Bangalore tomorrow as AICC observers to select the Chief Minister of Karnataka.

The ruling BJD, however, rejected Singh's statement, claiming that situation in Odisha is totally different.

"It is wrong political analysis by the Union Minister," BJD vice-president and state Finance Minister Prasanna Acharya said.

He said BJP lost the elections in Karnataka due to dispute over leadership and division in the saffron party there.

"In contrast, Odisha has a strong leadership of Naveen Patnaik. While there had been political instability in Karnataka, Naveen Patnaik has provided a stable and vibrant government in Odisha," he said.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik backed Singh on his stand and alleged that Odisha has witnessed and experienced more corruption and nepotism than that in Karnataka.

"You (Naveen) cannot fool the people of Odisha any more," Niranjan said.