The process for our Grand Alliance of political parties sans the BJD and the Congress has started in the State from today,” said Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) president Pyarimohan Mohapatra while attending a meeting ‘Paribartan Samabesh’ organised by the Republican Party of India (RPI) here on Saturday.
Mohapatra declared that the RPI became the first party to join the proposed Grand Alliance. RPI national president Ramdas Athwale announced his party’s full support to the alliance. He said, “People of Odisha are not happy with the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government. They need an alternative which can be given by the Grand Alliance.”
Mohapatra told a joint Press meet of the OJM and the RPI that he has 100 per cent confidence for alliance with the BJP. “National-level leaders of the BJP are in a constant touch with me,” he added.
He also asserted that rebels of the Congress and dejected BJD leaders would join the alliance very soon. “Nothing is impossible in politics as most of the despondent leaders in different parties are counting their days to leave their parties,” Mohapatra said, adding, “There are many rebel leaders in both Congress and BJD. Just wait and watch how many people will come to join our party in future.”
Meanwhile, Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, who was expelled from the Congress recently, informed on the day that he would take a final decision on his political alternative very soon. But he didn’t clarify that whether he would float a new party or join an established party. “If a new alternative comes, the people may like it,” said Patnaik, adding, “By the end of this month, my decision will come.”