The electoral success of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi has boosted the morale of some regional political outfits in Odisha.
As AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal could defeat three-time Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the national Capital, leaders of these regional parties in Odisha are hopeful of their performance in the State.
At least two Odisha politicians expect that the AAP magic will help them to perform significantly in the ensuing elections in the State. They are Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) president Pyarimohan Mohapatra and Aama Odisha chief Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, who have formed their outfits after being removed from the BJD and the Congress,
respectively.
Though Mohapatra and Soumya Patnaik have been campaigning against both the BJD and the Congress since some time, the Delhi election results have now further emboldened them in their fight against BJD chief Naveen Patnaik.
Interestingly, Soumya Patnaik and his party workers don the cap akin to that of the AAP’s rank and file
“People of Odisha have found the OJM as an alternative platform,” claimed Mohapatra, adding that the AAP’s success would certainly influence Odisha politics.
Similar was the optimism of Soumya Patnaik. “As the Congress has failed to emerge as an alternative for the people of Odisha, Aama Odisha will fulfil their aspiration,” he said.
And other regional parties like the Samruddha Odisha are also encouraged. Samruddha Odisha president Jatish Mohanty said he hopes people of Odisha would also follow the Delhi trend.
Besides, the AAP’s Odisha unit is also hopeful that it too can make a difference in
the Odisha politics in coming days.