In Odisha, BJP wants to fight ‘pro-BJD’ image

NEW DELHI: The BJP might find it difficult to escalate its fight against Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha as it believes it faces a problem of perception.

Seven years after the break up between the BJP and the BJD — before the 2009 Lok Sabha polls — the BJP has drawn up an elaborate plan to shed its ‘pro-BJD’ image ahead of next year’s panchayat elections in the coastal state.

There is more than 100% increase in the number of BJP mandals — the party’s grassroot units— from 451 to 997. Each of these units has been tasked to protest against the Patnaik government on local issues. The district units will hold similar agitation programmes between September 15 and 20 on issues related to the respective districts.

This will culminate in a show of strength in Bhubaneshwar with about 2 lakh BJP workers hitting the streets against the alleged poor governance of the Patnaik government.

“There is a perception about the BJP being hand in glove with the BJD government. We can change that only when we take up hyper local issues and keep hitting the streets. We plan to do that,” BJP general Arun Singh, in-charge of Odisha affairs, said. The 2017 panchayat polls in Odisha will be a crucial test for the BJP after its good show in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. With 22% votes in that election, the BJP won one Lok Sabha seat but stood second in nine others.

Its vote share in the Lok Sabha poll was closer to the Congress’ 26%. In the assembly election, which was held simultaneously, BJP polled 18% votes while the Congress came ahead with 26% votes. The BJD, which retained power in the state and won 20 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats, had bagged more than 43% votes.

The BJP’s presence — with or without the BJD’s support — has been largely restricted to pockets in western Odisha.