Congress Sees Advantage For BJP In ULB Polls In Odisha; Know What Senior Leaders Say

Bhubaneswar: After getting a severe drubbing in the recently concluded panchayat polls, the Congress does not see a bright prospects in the elections to urban local bodies (ULBs) in the state due to money power of BJP and BJD and their tacit understanding.

Speaking to media persons on the worst ever performance by the Congress in panchayat elections, OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik said BJD’s money might has rendered the Opposition non-existent in the state. The ruling party is supported in this regard by the BJP, he added.

Accusing the BJP of being hands in glove with the BJD, Patnaik said the former did not go all out to beat the ruling party for their mutual understanding. “The BJP never wanted to compete with BJD because of their understanding which is evident from the regional party’s support to the saffron party at the Centre,” he added.

While the BJD government pumped money through schemes to lure the voters, the BJP supported it by not putting in enough efforts. It was like a fixed match, the OPCC president said.

If BJD swept the panchayat polls, the BJP will be at advantageous position in the ULB elections with support from the regional party, he said adding that the Congress would again be at loss for the secret understanding between the two parties.

Echoing similar sentiments, senior Congress leader and Kantabanji MLA of Balangir district Santosh Singh Saluja said BJP performed better in western Odisha region in 2017 elections as the money was diverted from its governments in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. But in this panchayat elections, the BJP suffered in the region as it did not get money from both states.

On the other hand, the AICC is not providing funds to the party to contest in any elections in Odisha. “The party gave just Rs 25,000 to its candidates to contest elections. How can any candidate win the polls with such a paltry amount against lakhs of rupees spent by other parties?,” he asked.

He further said the Congress will face same situation in ULB elections. “Congress can never match upto BJP for the simple reason that we do not have money. In the last elections, the party gave Rs 10,000 to councillor candidates. What would one do with this amount which cannot fetch simple posters, banners and other materials,” he said.

Stating that the Congress leaders and workers are working hard with whatever sources they have to strengthen the party organisation, Saluja said the efforts would go to waste as the party can never compete with the parties like BJD and BJP which are in power and call the shots in the elections.