BJP Looks to Contest Alone in Odisha, Stalls Talks With Naveen Patnaik’s Party
The highly anticipated discussions for a pre-election alliance and seat-sharing agreement between the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha have hit a stumbling block. Talks held in Delhi failed to resolve disagreements, particularly concerning the Bhubaneswar and Puri constituencies, leading to an unexpected impasse.
Upon their return to Bhubaneswar, BJP state president Manmohan Samal, along with other senior leaders, suggested that the BJP might contest all 147 assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha independently. Samal stated that the discussions in Delhi were solely focused on election preparations, with no mention of forming an alliance or sharing seats.
“We did not discuss any alliance, and the BJP will go to the polls alone,” said Samal, as reported by PTI. “Our discussions in Delhi were centered on preparing for the upcoming Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state. No talks regarding alliances or seat-sharing with any party took place. The BJP will rely on its own strength to contest both elections.”
The breakdown in discussions has sparked speculation, particularly given the historical context of the BJD’s departure from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) 15 years ago. Sushma Swaraj, a former BJP leader and minister, had previously warned that Naveen Patnaik, the leader of BJD, would come to regret breaking ties after an 11-year understanding.
The disagreement primarily revolves around seat-sharing ratios. Despite initially agreeing to a pre-poll alliance, both parties couldn’t come to terms on seat distribution. The BJD aimed for over 100 seats out of 147 in the Odisha Assembly, which the BJP found unacceptable. Similarly, the BJP demanded 14 out of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, a request rejected by the BJD. This stalemate persisted as both parties remained steadfast in their positions.
While some sections of the Odisha BJP leadership seem open to the idea of an alliance, others, including Mr. Samal, are adamant about contesting the polls independently. Discussions continued among party officials, with Odisha BJP leaders meeting in Bhubaneswar for further deliberations. Meanwhile, BJD representatives who had rushed to Delhi for talks with BJP central leaders have returned to the state capital.
Reflecting on past alliances, the seat-sharing ratio between BJD and BJP during their previous collaboration from 1998 to 2009 was 4:3. However, a shift in voting patterns was observed in the 2019 elections, deviating from the historical trend favoring the BJD.
The previous alliance between BJD and BJP dissolved in 2009 due to failed seat-sharing negotiations. The breakdown was attributed to the BJD’s demand for a reduction in the BJP’s share of assembly and parliamentary seats, which the BJP deemed unreasonable, leading to the withdrawal of support and the end of their political partnership.
