Bhubaneswar: With an attempt to put full stop on formation of pre-poll alliance between ruling BJD and BJP, senior BJP leader and Odisha election in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar today said that there is no chance of an alliance with the ruling BJD in the State in the upcoming elections.
Speaking to media persons here after returning from BJP’s election management committee meeting in Delhi, Shri Tomar said neither the party nor the President has discussed any possible alliance with the BJD in the State.
“I do not know what discussion was held in the BJP Parliamentary Board meeting because I am not a member of the panel. As per Odisha is concerned, till now, no discussion was held about the State Assembly polls,” Tomar said.
“I have discussed with the party President JP Nadda. He did not say anything about any alliance,” he said.
The BJP leader claimed that the party will fight the Odisha Assembly election alone and win more than 80 seats.
Shri Tomar said it is the BJD which is floating the idea of an alliance. “We have never said anything about alliance with them.”
State BJP President Manmohan Samal had told media persons on 1 March evening that the party will not enter into any alliance in the State.
Shri Samal also exuded confidence that the saffron party will win all 21 Lok Sabha seats and will also form Government in Odisha.
Reacting on the issue, BJD Spokesperson Sasmit Patro termed the possible alliance as rumour and alleged that some State BJP leaders are adding fuel to the rumour by publishing it in the media.
Notably, the speculations over alliance was started following a closed-door meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and 5T Chairman V K Pandian in August last year.
Later, a series of events including BJD’s support to the BJP in major Bills in the House and soft-stand statements given by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Prime Minister Narendra Modi towards each other. In a public event, the CM has given 8 out of 10 marks to PM Modi.
It went to peak when the BJD supported Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to re-elect to Rajya Sabha from Odisha.
With these major events in the background, now all eyes are on the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Odisha scheduled for March 5. The entire picture will be cleared on that day, feel political observers.
