The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) would select its candidates for the April Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State on the criterion of “winnability”, said party supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in reply to reporters’ question on Tuesday.
Asked about chances of the BJD going for a coalition, Patnaik emphatically denied the poser. “We will fight on our own,” he said.
Notably, Patnaik had stated on Monday that the BJD would announce the names of its candidates “very soon” and that the party would do “very well” in the elections.
Meanwhile on the day, Congress leader Pradeep Disari from Kalahandi district joined the BJD along with his supporters in the presence of Naveen Patnaik at the Naveen Niwas here.
“I am glad that Pradeep Disari with hundreds of his Congress followers has joined the BJD. This will strengthen our party in Kalahandi district,” said Patnaik.
Disari stated that he was overlooked by the Congress when it came to selection of candidates. So, he decided to quit the party and join the BJD. “I am hopeful for a BJD ticket for the Lanjigarh Assembly seat,” he said.
Disari had contested from Lanjigarh as the Congress candidate in 2014 elections and bagged 42,500 votes.