Alliance With BJD In Odisha To Be Decided By BJP’s Central Leadership: Jual Oram

Bhubaneswar: Amid speculations about a pre-poll alliance between Bharatiya Janata Party and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, senior saffron leader and former Union Minister Jual Oram on Wednesday said the issue was discussed in the core committee meeting of the party in New Delhi.

Stating that several issues were discussed in the meeting, the Sundargarh MP told reporters that the central leadership of BJP will take a final call on the issue of alliance with BJD.

Top leaders of the state including Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal, and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, attended the core committee meeting held under the chairmanship of BJP national president J P Nadda. Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present.

Though there was discussion on alliance, nothing has been finalised and the top leaders of the party will take a decision on the issue, said the senior tribal leader.

However, state BJP leaders expressed the view at the meeting that the party is keen to fight the upcoming elections alone, he said. “However, whatever the central leaders of the party decide, we will abide by it,” Oram added.

He said the core committee meeting also discussed several issues relating to strategy for the upcoming elections and selection of candidates.

The list of candidates has already been prepared and the party president and others will take a final decision for the 147 Assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats, he said.

Meanwhile, senior leaders of the BJD also held a series of meetings with Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at his residence in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.