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BJD and BJP Leaders Hint at Possible Pre-poll Alliance in Odisha Ahead of 2024 Elections

Kalyani Jha
07 Mar, 2024

Leaders from Odisha's ruling party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have hinted at the prospect of a pre-poll alliance ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and state assembly elections. The discussions come after BJD leaders held a meeting at Naveen Niwas, the residence of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while BJP leaders convened a similar session in the national capital, discussing election-related matters, including the possibility of forming an alliance.

BJD leaders, including Vice-president and MLA Debi Prasad Mishra, acknowledged talks about a potential alliance with the BJP but stopped short of confirming its formation explicitly. Mishra stated, "Biju Janata Dal will prioritize the greater interests of the people of Odisha. Yes, there were discussions on the issue (alliance)." A press release issued by Mishra and BJD's senior general secretary Arun Kumar Sahoo highlighted an extensive discussion under the leadership of BJD president and CM Naveen Patnaik regarding the strategy for the upcoming elections.

On the BJP side, senior leader and MP Jual Oram admitted to discussions on a pre-poll alliance with the BJD following a meeting chaired by BJP president JP Nadda in Delhi. However, Oram clarified that the final decision on the matter would be made by the party's central leadership.

Meanwhile, the Congress labeled the BJD and BJP as "two sides of the same coin," alleging that the opposition between the two parties is merely "shadowboxing." Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh stated, "The BJD and the BJP are two sides of the same coin. The BJD has always supported the BJP in Parliament, and whatever opposition the two show to each other in the state is merely shadowboxing."

Although both the BJD and BJP had previously denied media reports about a potential pre-poll alliance, speculations gained momentum after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Odisha, where he launched multiple development projects worth over ₹19,600 crore in Jajpur district. With no formal announcement yet, the discussions hint at a potential realignment in Odisha's political landscape ahead of the crucial elections in 2024.