BJP starts talks with Odisha parties on alliance

BJP was unable to decide last week about alliance formation in Odisha as state leaders opposed idea

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today began discussions with smaller and relatively new political entities in Odisha to boost its electoral fortunes in the state.

Party’s senior leader Arun Jaitley today discussed with Utkal Bharat, formed by rebel BJP leader, Kharabela Swain, Ama Odisha Party of former Congress leader Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Samata Kranti Party of Braja Kishore Tripathy, a former Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP.

“We have been urged to fight under the umbrella of NDA and we have no objection to it. All of us feel that there is a need to form an alliance in Odisha to curb the corruption of Naveen Patnaik government,” said Swain ahead of his meeting with Jaitley.

The BJP was unable to decide last week about alliance formation in Odisha as state leaders opposed the idea, especially the proposal of tie-up with Odisha Jana Morcha (OJM) floated by former BJD strategist, Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, who in 2009 had played a key role in separation of BJD from NDA.

Ahead of the meeting with other political parties, Jaitley discussed with state BJP leaders to convince them about the benefit of an alliance in Odisha, where it enjoys third largest voting share after BJD and the Congress.

“It is too early now, the discussion is not over yet,” said Biswa Bhushan Harichandan, senior state BJP leader, after his discussion with Jaitley. Despite their protest, the state BJP leaders were tight lipped about talks with OJM of Mohapatra, who had initially proposed a Grand Alliance with BJP, claiming that such move would be able to consolidate anti-BJD votes.

The state BJP leaders said, they will weigh all measures that will be required for winning maximum Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. In 2009, the party was not able to send a single Lok Sabha MP from the state.