No Talks With Central Leaders On Alliance With BJD, Says Odisha BJP President

Bhubaneswar: Odisha president of BJP Manmohan Samal on Friday ruled out any alliance with the ruling BJD for the ensuing twin elections in the state.

Speaking to mediapersons on his arrival from New Delhi in the evening, Samal said no discussion was held on the alliance with the BJD during the meeting of the state leaders with the Central leadership of the party.

“We had gone to Delhi to hold discussions with the central leaders on our preparations for the elections to Lok Sabha and the Assembly in the state. There were no talks on alliance or seat-sharing with any party during the meeting,” he asserted.

Stating that he had made the party’s stand clear earlier, Samal said the BJP will contest alone in the elections in Odisha.

Samal further said they discussed plans and strategy for BJP’s victory in the twin elections. “We are confident of winning the Assembly as well as Lok Sabha elections. The BJP will contest on its own strength in the state,” he added.

Earlier in the day, BJD leaders VK Pandian and Pranab Prakash Das, who had rushed to Delhi in a chartered flight on Thursday evening, returned to Bhubaneswar but kept mum over the goings on.

On the other hand, BJP’s Prithviraj Harichandan said no decision had been taken on the alliance between the two parties. “There has been no discussion on it as yet. We are hopeful that the central leadership will accept the state leaders’ contention to contest the forthcoming elections alone,” he said.

It may be noted that a core team of the state BJP had been camping in Delhi for the last 2-3 days. They also held marathon meetings with some central leaders of the party at the South Avenue residence of Odisha election in-charge and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Pal Singh Tomar.

Also Read: Seat-Sharing Talks: V K Pandian, Pranab Das Return From Delhi; BJP Says Alliance Not Yet Final