None From Odisha In BJP’s 2nd List Of LS Candidates Amid Alliance Talks

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday released its second list of 72 candidates from across 11 states for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

However, no one from Odisha figured in the list as the saffron party is stated to be engaged in the process of firming up an electoral alliance with Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the state.

As per sources, both the political parties have so far been unable to give a concrete shape to the proposed tie-up for the Lok Sabha polls to be held simultaneously with Assembly elections in the state. The process lingers despite marathon meetings the two parties have been holding their respective leaders over the last few days.

While senior Odisha BJP leaders including state party president Manmohan Samal, who had held talks with top brass of the saffron outfit in Delhi, again rushed to the national capital two days ago after being summoned by the central leaders.

BJD leaders Pranab Prakash Das and V K Pandian had also undertaken a visit to Delhi where they reportedly held alliance talks with top BJP leaders.

However, several state leaders of BJP have expressed their views against the party forging any electoral alliance with BJD, while the regional party has been pressing for clarity on the part of the saffron outfit. The ruling BJD, led by chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is stated to be in favour of an early announcement by BJP on alliance as any further delay would affect its poll prospects.

BJP had earlier released its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections on March 2.

BJP’s second list includes the name of Manohar Lal Khattar, who resigned as the chief minister of Haryana on Tuesday. He will contest the elections from Karnal constituency.

Union Minister Anurag Thakur will contest from Himachal Pradesh’s Hamirpur, while veteran BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has been fielded from Nagpur in Maharashtra.

Former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai is to contest from Haveri, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya to contest from Bangalore South, and Union Minister Piyush Goyal to contest from Mumbai North.