BJP Thanks Naveen Patnaik For Support At Centre, But No Tie-up In Odisha

The BJP decided not to tie up with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha for the Lok Sabha election after the Centre found many schemes of the Modi government have not been reaching the common people, state BJP chief Manmohan Samal said in a post on the microblogging platform X today.

The BJD also said it will contest in all 147 assembly and all 21 Lok Sabha constituencies "with the support of people of Odisha and win more than three-fourth seats under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik."

The BJP's decision came after a big meeting in Delhi, where Odisha BJP leaders convinced central leaders that an alliance with Mr Patnaik's party would be against the BJP's interest.

Welcoming the move, BJP leader Aparajita Sarangi posted on X, "Excellent, immensely grateful."

The BJP going solo in BJD-ruled Odisha was expected, as the party had already indicated it wouldn't contest the national election together with Mr Patnaik's party, though there had been speculation about a tie-up for a while in recent weeks.

The only difference now is that the BJP has announced the reason for not joining hands with the BJD.

"For the past 10 years, BJD of Odisha under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik has been supporting the Narendra Modi government in the Centre in many matters of national importance. For this, we express our gratitude to him (Mr Patnaik)," the Odisha BJP chief said.

"But today many welfare schemes of the Modi government are not reaching the ground in Odisha, due to which the people of the state are not getting their benefits. We have concerns on many issues related to Odisha identity, Odisha pride, and interest of the people of Odisha," Mr Samal said in the post on X in Hindi.

"To fulfil the hopes, wishes and aspirations of 4.5 crore people of Odisha, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to make a developed India and developed Odisha, the BJP will win all the 21 Lok Sabha and 147 assembly seats. We will contest both Lok Sabha and assembly elections alone," the state BJP chief said in the post.

BJD general secretary (organisation) Pranab Prakash Das in a post on X said the party will continue to take decisions keeping people of Odisha always in the forefront.

"With the blessings of Lord Jagannatha and the faith of people of Odisha, BJD has been serving the state and transforming it like never before in every sector," he added.