No Hope Of Cong Winning Seats In Western Odisha: Niranjan

Bhubaneswar: President of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik on Wednesday said that his party had no hope of winning the Assembly seats in western Odisha.

“The Congress will fare better in South and the coastal districts. But winning seats in western Odisha appears remote,” he told mediapersons here.

Asked about the prospects of his party in this election, Niranjan said, “We are not optimistic about forming the government in Odisha. But I can say with confidence that the Congress will win more Assembly seats compared to 2014.”

Asserting that he will win from Bhandaripokhari while it will be a close contest at Ghasipura, the OPCC president said irrespective of the results, the Congress has given a good fight this election.

To a question on whether the Congress will emerge as the main opposition in the State Assembly, he said it is doubtful. “The Congress will be the main opposition in the Assembly if the BJP joins hand with the BJD,” he pointed out.

On the possibility of the BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik accepting the Sonia Gandhi’s invitation to lend support the UPA government in the formation of the government at the Centre, Niranjan said “I don’t think he will accept such an offer. The BJD has long been harping on its equi-distant policy and will support any party which will form the government at the Centre,” he added.