BJD Spent Money To Influence Voters In Chhattisgarh, Says Odisha BJP Leader Pradip Purohit

Bhubaneswar: Amid celebrations over three-state win, senior BJP leader Pradip Purohit on Monday said the results in neighbouring Chhattisgarh will deal a death blow to BJD rule in Odisha.

Speaking to the media, he said that the win, particularly in Chhattisgarh which shares borders with 30-35 Assembly segments in Odisha, will have an impact in western Odisha and its rippling effects will also be felt in the coastal and southern districts of the state in 2024 elections. “The BJD spent spent crores of rupees to influence the voters and their leaders travelled across Chhattisgarh to stop BJP from coming to power as they were aware of the impact the win would have in Odisha. They had also done the same in the previous election,” he alleged.

Purohit said that BJP would restart the development process in Chhattisgarh, and soon make inroads into Odisha. “BJP wave will start in western Odisha and no one can stop the lotus from blooming in Odisha in 2024,” he added.

While the BJD is yet to react to these claims, Congress leader Panchanan Kanungo slammed Purohit and alleged that BJD, has been providing money to the BJP, which had initially funded its formation. “The BJP should protect itself in Odisha first. Both BJD and BJP will be eliminated from the state.”

He further said that it will be interesting to watch the response of BJD and BJP leaders to the Mahanadi water dispute with the saffron party now in power in the neighbouring state.