The BJP is in deep trouble in Orissa. Though the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the BJP have started talks on a possible alliance in the general election.
The BJP is in deep trouble in Orissa. Though the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the BJP have started talks on a possible alliance in the general election, relation between the two parties has strained over the years. Despite several rounds of talks, they have not reached an amicable seat-sharing arrangement.
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate LK Advani last week sent senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Dr Chandan Mitra to Bhubaneswar to settle the contentious seat-sharing issue before making an alliance. Though a meeting was held on the seat-sharing issue, chief minister Naveen Patnaik did not turn up.
Given its rising popularity, the BJD has started playing hide-and-seek with the BJP and is dictating terms. The BJP’s humiliating defeat in the elections to both Cuttack municipal corporation and Bhubaneswar municipal corporation has further emboldened the BJD, which came out with flying colours and formed the council recently.
However, an alliance is in the air. Architect of the BJD Pyarimohan Mohaptara said nothing was static in politics, giving rise to speculation of a tie-up. The BJD has further indicated that the party was ready for an alliance but some changes may be made in the seat-sharing arrangement. As per an earlier arrangement worked out in 1988, while the BJP contested 63 assembly seats, the BJD fought from 84. Similarly, the BJD fielded candidates in 12 Lok Sabha constituencies and the BJP contested in nine. Sources said the BJD is now demanding at least 110 seats.
However, BJD senior leader and steel and mines minister Pradeep Kumar Amat said taking into account the performance of the party in the past five years, fresh negotiations should be held. However, state BJP leaders said they would not buckle under JD’s pressure tactics. “No change will be made in the early equation,” BJP MP Rudra Pani said.
Amid the chaos, Patnaik left for Delhi on Monday. Sources said the BJP high command may take up the issue with Patnaik. But Patnaik said: “I have no plan to meet any leaders.”
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