BJP State president KV Singh Deo on Friday claimed that the BJP would form the Government in the State with the support of BJD dissident MlAs after the poll results are out on May 16.
“The ruling BJD leaders, fed up with the dictatorial attitude of party supremo Naveen Patnaik, are in touch with us (the BJP). There could be realignment as State is heading for a hung Assembly this time,” Singh Deo said.He said, “BJP is expected to win in 45 to 55 Assembly seats and there would be no problem in getting the magic numbers for the BJP to form the Government in the State.”
Talking to newsmen after the meeting of the State party office bearers and the coordinators of the Parliamentary constituencies here, Singh Deo also said some senior IAS officers have started interacting over phones indicating an imminent change in the Government.He said the party is also expecting get 9 to 14 lok Sabha seats in the State.
However, ruling BJD leader Dr Damodar Rout dubbed Singh Deo’s assertion as daydream. “BJP could hardly get around 25 seats and would not be able form the Government,” he said. He also asserted that the BJD under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik will return to power for the fourth time in a row.The BJP’s post-poll meeting held under the chairmanship Singh Deo discussed the political strategy to be adopted after the results are out on May 16, sources said.
Among others, senior leaders, Biswa Bhushan Harichandn, Manmohan Samal, Surama Padhi, Suresh Pujari, Nayan Kishore Mohanty, Samir Dey and Prasanna Mishra attended the meeting.