Odisha Jan Morcha (OJM) president Pyarimohan Mohapatra on Saturday said he has held talks with the BJP Central leadership for a possible pre-poll alliance with the OJM and that the response of the latter is positive.
“I have talked to the BJP central leaders on the subject and all the signals are positive,” Mohapatra told mediapersons. However, Mohapatra did not divulge any further information regarding “all signals.”
Nonetheless, Rajya Sabha member and BJP in-charge for Odisha Chandan Mitra, when asked for his comments, said, “We have, so far, decided to go it alone in the elections in the State. I don’t know what Pyaribabu has said (to the media earlier on the day). Our Central leadership has, so far, not intimated me about Pyaribabu’s talks with them. It is up to the Central leadership to take a final decision and time will tell us more.”
Mitra had earlier attended the anniversary function of Odia daily Khabara, managed by Mohapatra, as the chief guest.BJP State president KV Singh Deo said his party would neither align with the OJM nor with the BJD for the elections. He has held talks with BJP national president Rajnath Singh in this regard, he said, adding that the party would contest on all the 147 Assembly seats. BJP national general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan and State spokesman Suresh Pujari also concurred with Singh Deo.