Amid alliance talk with BJP, BJD intensifies its poll preparations

The Biju Janata Dal has intensified its consultations for different Lok Sabha constituencies with potential candidates being asked to stay prepared for the upcoming election.

Candidates for eight seats have so far held discussions with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the presence of party observers. These seats are Puri, Kendrapara, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Berhampur, Aska, Bhubaneswar and Kandhamal.

According to a senior leader, an aspirant for a MP seat in southern Odisha, the BJD supremo has directed all party leaders to start mobilising support for them for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Issues such as local factors, candidates and adversaries in Assembly seats coming under the jurisdiction of these Lok Sabha constituencies also figured in the discussions.

For Puri LS seat

Party sources said Arup Patnaik, former Mumbai Police Commissioner, was considered as a candidate for Puri Lok Sabha seat. Mr. Patnaik had lost 2019 election from Bhubaneswar seat from where BJP’s national spokesperson had registered her maiden victory.

These exercises are being taken forward despite the fact that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Mr. Patnaik’s close aide V. K. Pandian not ruling out the possibility of an alliance.

Meanwhile, for the first time in 15 days, the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party took an aggressive approach against the BJD, demanding removal of hoardings with photographs of the CM.

A party delegation, led by its vicepresident Lekhashree Samantsinghar, met State’s Chief Electoral Officer and drew his attention over the continuation of hoardings with the BJD’s election symbol and Odisha CM’s photograph. “As per the guidelines, advertisement hoardings are to be removed from public places. This violates model code of conduct,” said Ms. Samantsinghar.

Candidates for eight seats have held discussions with CM Naveen Patnaik in the presence of party observers