BJP-BJD Alliance Talks Fail in Odisha: BJP to Go Solo in Lok Sabha, Assembly Polls

Bhubaneswar: Alliance talks between Bharatiya Janata Party and Biju Janata Dal have failed to reach consensus, and the BJP has decided to contest both the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and Odisha assembly elections on its own. 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will fight alone in all 21 Lok Sabha and 147 Assembly seats in Odisha, said State BJP President Manmohan Samal on Friday, March 22. 

While there was no formal announcement regarding a pre-poll alliance between the ruling BJD and the Opposition BJP in Odisha, leaders from both parties hinted at a mutual tie-up before the Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

When Patnaik Left NDA in 2009

The BJP-BJD alliance goes back to 1998 and the coalition have achieved success in two Odisha Assembly elections and three Lok Sabha elections. Observers believe that the idea behind foundation of BJD, formed by Biju Patnaik after break away from Janata Dal, was that regional leaders govern the states. 

BJD was considered BJP's all season ally. However, the alliance collapsed in 2009 after the two parties failed failed to achieve a consensus on seat-sharing. While the BJD demanded a reduction in BJP's share, the saffron party refused to adjust. 

How BJP-BJD Alliance Could Change the Entire Political Scenario 

It needs to be noted that Naveen Patnaik has supported the BJP's stance at several occasions and had refused to join Opposition's rainbow coalition INDI Alliance.