Odisha, BJP’s Best Bet In Its Look East Policy

Odisha represents the best chance for BJP among the eastern states in the upcoming elections as part of its look east policy. It is on track to eclipse the Congress as the principal opposition, Hindustan Times said on Tuesday in a half page analytical piece.

The article ‘BJP’s other look east policy’ said that in both Odisha and West Bengal, BJP’s objective is clear: project itself as the principal opposition and expand its steadily growing presence. “In both the states, it will go its own way as there are no plausible coalition allies with which it can join forces”.

Suggesting that the party could improve its performance in Odisha in 2019, the paper said that though BJP had just won one seat in the last Lok Sabha polls, it came second in another nine seats concentrated in the western districts. It also put in a strong showing winning 297 out of the 894 zilla parishad seats.

The article came on a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally from the western town of Balangir where he inaugurated projects worth Rs 1500 crore.

Now that the party, the daily said, is going all out to capture as many seats both in the state assembly elections and general elections being held simultaneously, it was no surprise when the PM chose Cuttack in October last year to address a gathering commemorating four years of his government.

“Whether, and to what extent, the BJP is able to improve its performance on India’s eastern coast could make or break its 2019 chances,” the paper underlined. BJP had won just seven of the 144 Lok Sabha seats from eastern India.