After leaving the NDA fifteen years ago, the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, of the governing Biju Janata Dal, has alluded to the possibility of renewing relations with the BJP for the next assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The BJP would receive eight Lok Sabha seats if the BJD agreed to 13 seats.

There are discussions about the possibility of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and the BJP renewing their relationship ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and the state assembly elections. Leaders of both parties have made suggestions of a re-alliance, even though there hasn’t been a formal announcement of the same. After the BJP-led NDA was formed in 2009 after an 11-year political partnership due to failed seat-sharing talks.

According to BJD insiders who spoke with India Today, the party can agree to 13 Lok Sabha seats, which would give the BJP eight. Ahead of the Odisha assembly polls, the BJP is targeting 55 seats in addition to nine Lok Sabha seats. The BJP currently has 23 MLAs and eight MPs in the Lok Sabha.

Odisha has 147 assembly constituencies and up to 21 Lok Sabha seats.

On Wednesday, BJD leaders met for three hours at Patnaik’s home, Naveen Niwas, in Bhubaneswar. Concurrently, in New Delhi, representatives of the Odisha BJP met with Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, and JP Nadda, the party chairman, to discuss election-related issues, including the possibility of forming an alliance with Naveen Patnaik’s faction.

Vice president of the BJD and MLA Debi Prasad Mishra acknowledged that talks on a potential alliance with the BJP had taken place after the meeting. He asserted that the state has made remarkable progress under Naveen Patnaik’s leadership, telling reporters that the BJD would “prioritise the greater interests of the people of Odisha.”

An intensive discussion was held with senior leaders “regarding the strategy of the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections” at the meeting, according to a news release issued by Debi Mishra and BJD senior general secretary Arun Kumar Sahoo.

Senior BJP leader and MP Jual Oram acknowledged the coalition negotiations similarly, but he stated that the party’s central leadership would make the final decision on the agreement.

“Yes, among other things, there were talks about the partnership. The ultimate decision will be made by the party’s top leadership,” Oram stated.

The BJP and the BJD are rumored to be getting back together ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and the Odisha assembly elections, which would mean being held simultaneously. However, both sides previously rejected media reports on February 29.

ODISHA’s SEAT GAME

The BJD secured 12 parliamentary seats and 112 assembly seats in 2019, compared to the BJP’s eight parliamentary seats and 23 assembly seats.

SHARING APPRECIATIONS

The most recent instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik openly praising one another came on Tuesday, March 5, during the former’s visit to Odisha, when he unveiled many development projects valued at over Rs 19,600 crore in the Jaipur district of the eastern state.

On the occasion of Naveen Patnaik’s birth anniversary, PM Modi also honored his father, the late Biju Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha. Speaking on behalf of the nation, the prime minister stated that “Biju Baba’s invaluable contributions” to the development of Odisha and the country “remain unmatched” and that it was an honor for him to be honored.

11-YEAR PUBLIC COMMITMENT

After allying with the BJP in 1998, the BJD won two assembly elections in Odisha and three Lok Sabha elections. The BJD suggested to the BJP high command in 2009 that they run for 40 seats in the Lok Sabha instead of 63, and six assembly constituencies instead of nine. Following the BJP’s rejection of the proposal, Naveen Patnaik’s group broke apart from the party.

However, even after leaving the NDA, the BJD continued with its support for the PM Modi-led central government in Parliament. Naveen Patnaik’s side also supported NDA candidates in the presidential and vice-presidential polls in 2012, 2017, and 2022.

Team Profile

Khusbu JenaNews Writer

Khusbu Jena, equipped with a sturdy educational background in Media Studies, embarks on a journey to traverse the expansive dimensions of media, aiming to intertwine it with international affairs. Their academic pursuits have endowed them with a deep comprehension of the dynamic media landscape, spanning from traditional journalism to digital platforms, as well as encompassing area studies and geopolitics. Demonstrating an inherent curiosity about diverse workspaces, Khusbu exudes an eagerness for continuous learning and exploration.