The possibility of an alliance between the BJP and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha hangs in the balance as both parties negotiate seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
According to sources within the BJD, the BJP has expressed its desire to contest 57 out of the 147 Assembly seats and 13-14 out of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. This proposal would leave the BJD with 90 Assembly seats and 6-7 Lok Sabha seats. However, BJD leaders have rejected the BJP's suggestion to accept it as the "big brother" in the alliance.
On the other hand, the state unit of the BJP is inclined to contest all seats independently to strengthen its base in Odisha. State BJP leaders believe that the party's popularity, particularly due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has increased in the last decade, leading to a rise in the party's vote percentage.
The BJP's state leadership is optimistic about winning over 60 seats in the Assembly elections and 14–15 seats in the Lok Sabha polls. However, the final decision regarding a potential alliance rests with the top leadership of both parties, notably Prime Minister Modi and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
During a recent media summit, BJD's second-in-command, VK Pandian, hinted at the personal relationship between Modi and Patnaik influencing the decision-making process regarding the alliance. He emphasized that both leaders share a deep friendship that transcends politics, indicating a possible role of statesmanship in the final decision.
With elections in Odisha scheduled to commence from May 13 onwards, there remains a window of opportunity for last-minute negotiations between the two parties as they assess their respective strengths and strategize for the polls.
Although the BJP's core group in Odisha recently met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda to finalize the list of candidates, indicating the party's readiness to contest independently if necessary, the final outcome of the alliance remains uncertain.
While the BJP aims to consolidate its presence in Odisha, the BJD is determined to maintain its stronghold in the state under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik. Ultimately, the political landscape in Odisha is poised for significant developments as the parties navigate through the intricacies of alliance politics ahead of the elections.
