Bhubaneswar: As 2023 comes to an end and the general elections to the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly approaching fast, the Odisha politics is gradually taking a different shape. Keeping in view the preparations by three major parties like ruling BJD, Opposition BJP and Congress, the 2024 Battle is all probability to become most aggressive instead of “friendly” one among the parties.
Meanwhile, both the opposition parties have returned to Odisha Capital after meeting their high commands in the National Capital. While Congress Commander In Chief, Rahul Gandhi has already given green signal to his party rank and file to take an ‘aggressive’ mode to attack the Naveen Patnaik led BJD, Leader of Opposition Jaynarayan Mishra revealed that they too would leave ‘No Stone Unturned’ to defeat the 24 year old regional party dispensation.
Rahul Gandhi, sources said, has given a very simple ‘Mantra’ to his party men to go all out to expose the secret relationship between the BJD and the BJP or Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rahul considers that more the people know about Naveen-Modi equation, the benefit will go in favour of Congress. He has also told Team Congress to strike on the nexus between the BJD and the BJP which in all possible manner will give a better dividend to Congress in Odisha as it has been effective in the neighboring Telangana.
The Congress rank and file is now fully charged after meeting Rahul Gandhi. The Congress has also asked its party men not to adopt any soft attitude towards Naveen because it will ultimately help the BJP. He said that the people should understand that one vote to Naveen will ultimately strengthen Modi. If Naveen gets some benefit by one vote, the major chunk of dividend goes to Modi. The people should understand it and it is responsibility of each Congress men to reach this message at the grass root level.
PCC Chief has said that the Party has already launch “Ghar Ghar Congress’ Campaign and the party men will visit all households in the state and inform people that Naveen and Modi were both responsible for the price rise and unemployment.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Jaynarayan Mishra on his return also made his party’s stand clear that there is no possibility of saffron brigade having any soft corner for the BJD, the party which has dropped BJP from the coalition in 2009. He blamed the BJD for the present state of BJP.
The BJP MLAs meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party’s National President JP Nadda and other central leaders in New Delhi were very fruitful as they have given green signal to fight against the BJD with full energy. The BJP needs to form Government in Odisha and targets at least 15 Lok Sabha seats from the state’s 21 LS segments. The party men and women were told to do whatever required ousting the BJD’s 24 year old government, an insider revealed.
Shri Mishra, who has the habit of taking on BJD from the front also said that the party will no longer go soft on Odisha Government, rather it will be a ‘War’ this time. He said that the saffron brigade and the supporters will focus on booths and ensure that at least 50 per cent of votes go in favour of Lotus symbol in all the Assembly and Lok Sabha segments of Odisha.
BJP Odisha unit President Manmohan Samal recently said that the BJD will no more be allowed to mislead the people as they have done so in 2009, 2014 and 2019. In all these elections, the BJD has successfully given impression to the people that Naveen has very cordial relationship with the BJP Central Leadership. Therefore, he occasionally supports the Union Government, to give a direct message to the people that Naveen and Modi share a good relationship.
“The BJD will no more be allowed to take advantage. The BJP will have a separate strategy to counter the BJD’s strategies for misleading people. The people will be told how BJD use the name of BJP and misled the people,” Shri Samal said adding that the BJP leaders will also highlight how the central schemes were being misused and diverted in favour of the state’s BJD government.
The fight this time will be intense as the people have come forward to fight against the BJD Government, Shri Samal said adding that saffron party would not rest till the BJD Government is ousted from Odisha.
Meanwhile, the Governing BJD, has also on its extended executive meeting has given clear indication that the regional party would now revive its ‘Central negligence’ issue and highlight its demand for a Special Category State status as well as Special Focus State status, Central injustice through Polavaram and Mahandi issue, GST relief on sal leaves and other issues besides Railway, National Highway and other Infrastructure development.
Though Naveen recently gave 8 out of 10 marks to the Modi Government and BJD MPs said that Odisha gets central support in Lok sabha, this is the proper time to change the voice against the Modi government. “If the BJD does not change its track, the party will sink,” a Senior Vice President of the party said.
Therefore, keeping in view the preparations being made by all the three parties, it is safe to say that the politics in next three/ four months will be intense and the parties may adopt “do or die” policy to win the 2024 battle.
