Odisha BJP Leaders Summoned To Delhi Amid Alliance Talks

BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rushed to New Delhi on Sunday evening after being summoned by the party's top officials, signalling that their extended pre-poll negotiations with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) may be nearing a conclusion. There is widespread speculation that an electoral deal could be announced any time soon.

According to a source within the BJD, the coalition discussions have progressed positively, and there is an expectation that clarity on the matter, including details on seat-sharing arrangements, may be provided before Thursday.

BJP state president Manmohan Samal, general secretary (organisation) Manas Mohanty, state election in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar, and co-in-charge Lata Usendi, headed towards the national capital to finalize the alliance.

The discussions between the top leadership of both parties began on March 6, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Chandikhole in Odisha. While the top figures in both the BJD and BJP have not dismissed the ongoing coalition talks, some BJP leaders, including Samal, Tomar, and Usendi, initially created confusion by claiming ignorance of any such discussions regarding a reunion between the BJD and BJP after a gap of 15 years.

Samal stated that the central leadership wants to discuss the ground preparations for the upcoming twin polls in the state, but did not specify the exact agenda. Notably, after returning from Delhi on Friday Samal had emphatically ruled out alliance talks with the BJD. However on Sunday he refrained from commenting on the matter, indicating a shift in the situation.

This development comes after a short video featuring Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and his close aide V K Pandian, in which the BJD supremo criticized the spread of 'rumors and lies' in politics. Although no specific names were mentioned in the video, it was perceived as a veiled reference to Samal's earlier denial of alliance talks.