Amit Shah’s Visit To Odisha: Cong Sniffs Rajya Sabha Seat Deal With BJD

Bhubaneswar: Why is Union Home Minister Amit Shah coming to Odisha on February 28?

While BJP said Shah was scheduled to attend official programmes, including a pro-CAA rally, Congress alleged on Sunday that the Home Minister’s visit is more about striking a deal with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for Rajya Sabha seats.

“CAA and NRC are the only agendas of Home Minister Amit Shah. This is not a visit to attend official programme, rather it is planned in view of the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections,” said former chief of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Jaydev Jena.

“In the last Rajya Sabha elections, BJP had bagged one seat from Odisha with support from BJD. As the Home Minister himself is coming to Odisha this time, he is eyeing two seats in the state. Shah will discuss with the Odisha CM to clinch two Rajya Sabha seats,” the Congress leader added.

Reacting to the Jena’s statement, BJD MP Bhartuhari Mahtab said, “BJP has been holding such campaigns across the country in support of CAA. It is their party level programme. It is not legitimate for me to comment on that.”

“BJP and BJD are two separate parties. While the BJP heads the Central government, we are the ruling party in Odisha. So the Centre-State relationship is very clear ,” he added.

Earlier on Sunday, Odisha BJP general secretary Prithviraj Harichandan informed that Shah will attend the 24th Eastern Zonal Council (EZC) meeting in the morning in Bhubaneswar on February 28. Later, he will take part in pro-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) rally and address a mega public meeting in support of CAA at Janata Maidan in the Odisha capital.

On February 29, the Union minister will visit the Jagannath temple in Puri and the Lingaraj shrine in Bhubaneswar before flying back to Delhi.