BJP and BJD expected to work together for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha

GG News Bureau

Bhubaneswar, 7th March. The BJP and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), led by Naveen Patnaik, are finally going to work together after a falling out over the seat-sharing agreement in 2009. This is a major step forward for the National Democratic Alliance. The Congress-led INDIA block will suffer yet another setback as the BJP and BJD’s alliance would be stronger in Odisha, which has 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 assembly seats.

Yesterday, senior BJP leaders met with top BJP leadership to discuss the future. Following the meeting, the BJD released a statement pledging the party’s commitment to making decisions that will benefit the state. BJD’s Statement Following BJP Meeting

The BJD claimed that a lengthy conversation about the Party’s strategy for the next Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections was held with senior Party leaders, led by BJD President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. “During the talks, it was decided that since Odisha will have been a state for 100 years by 2036 and BJD and CM have significant goals to accomplish by then, BJD will work tirelessly to achieve this in the best interests of the people of Odisha and the State,” the BJD stated.

According to BJD vice president Debi Prasad Mishra, every choice made will be in Odisha’s best interests. He stated that since Odisha will be commemorating its 100th year of statehood in 12 years, party president Naveen Patnaik has proposed several milestones. Jual Oram, a BJP MP from Odisha, stated that talks have taken place on all seats, including the 147 Vidhan Sabha and the 21 Lok Sabha seats.

Potential Deal for BJP-BJD Seat-Sharing

The BJP and the BJD have reportedly decided on a reverse seat-sharing arrangement for the assembly and Lok Sabha elections since the two longtime friends are getting back together after a 15-year break. The BJP will have a higher seat share in the Lok Sabha, but the BJD will act as the big brother in the assembly elections. The BJP may run for 12–14 seats out of the state’s 21 parliamentary constituencies, while the BJD have 7-9 seats.

However, if the agreement is finalized, the BJD may run for about 100 seats in the 147-member assembly, while the BJP may run for about 40–50 seats.

Results of the 2019 Polls

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) secured 12 seats, the BJP 8 seats, and the Congress 1 seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The BJD easily won 113 seats in the state Assembly elections, with the BJP coming in second place with 23 seats and the Congress coming in third with 9 seats.

Past of the BJD-BJP Alliance

Leading figures Bijay Mohapatra and the late Pramod Mahajan formed the BJD-BJP alliance for the first time in 1998. In addition to winning the 1998, 1999, and 2004 parliamentary elections, the alliance also triumphed in the 2000 and 2004 assembly elections. However, the alliance disintegrated as a result of fruitless seat-sharing negotiations. Even though the BJD was a member of the opposition in Parliament, it had supported the NDA government on several occasions, which helped it pass important bills in the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA lacked a majority.