Lok Sabha election 2024: In a major development ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP and the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD may come together in Odisha as leaders of the parties have acknowledged talks about the pre-poll move and hinted at a tie-up. While BJD leaders went into a huddle at Naveen Niwas - the official residence of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday, hectic parleys were also held by BJP leaders in the state capital over various election matters including the potential alliance with the BJP, PTI reported.
Without explicitly confirming the possible alliance with the BJP, BJD vice-president and MLA Debi Prasad Mishra acknowledged talks on the same. He told reporters, "Biju Janata Dal will prioritise the greater interests of the people of Odisha. Yes, there were discussions on the issue (alliance)."
Claiming that Odisha had progressed significantly under Naveen Patnaik's leadership, Mishra emphasised the need to take the state's development to the next level.
A press release issued by Mishra and BJD's senior general secretary Arun Kumar Sahoo stated, "An extensive discussion was held under the leadership of BJD president and CM Naveen Patnaik with the senior leaders of the party today regarding the strategy of the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections."
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and MP Jual Oram also acknowledged discussions on the alliance with the BJD, adding that central leadership would take the final call. "Yes, there were discussions on the alliance among other issues. The party's central leadership will make the final call," Oram said.
The meeting chaired by Nadda was attended by top leaders of the state including state BJP chief Manmohan Samal and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Earlier, both parties rejected media reports about the alliance.
Commenting on the development, Odisha Congress president Sarat Pattanayak said, "The BJD government is deep in corruption including chit fund and mining scams. So, the BJD has surrendered itself before the BJP."