Manmohan Samal, the state BJP president, created waves earlier today by declaring the party’s intention to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha and Odisha elections independently. However, he swiftly retracted his statement, underscoring that the final decision rests with the party’s Parliamentary Party.
Upon his return to Bhubaneswar, Samal was summoned back to Delhi for an urgent meeting with the party’s top leadership later in the evening. His initial proclamation came amidst speculation about a potential pre-poll alliance between the BJD and the BJP.
After a meeting with Union Minister Amit Shah in the national capital, Samal asserted, “BJP will secure victory in the state on its own with the support of the people.” However, he later clarified, “The final decision will be as per the directives of our national president or the parliamentary party. The media should not draw conclusions based on my statements.”
Subsequently, Samal removed his social media post endorsing the BJP’s solo endeavour in Odisha politics.
Addressing reporters, Samal mentioned, “Our campaign will centre around the pride of Odisha.” When questioned about the possibility of an alliance with the BJD, he responded, “If that were the case, I wouldn’t have asserted that BJP would form the government in Odisha.”
In contrast, BJD MLA Sambit Routray queried, “If BJP is not interested in an alliance, why was Samal frequently visiting Delhi? We never invited him there. His actions and statements to the media have fueled speculation about a potential alliance. No BJD leader has hinted at such a possibility.”
Meanwhile, the BJD convened a meeting of senior party members at Naveen Niwas, the residence of party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, earlier in the day.
Speculation about an alliance between the BJD and the BJP intensified after Odisha BJP leaders were summoned to the national capital on March 10. Over the following days, they engaged in discussions with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to gauge opinions on the matter.
