The State BJP leadership seems succumbing to pressure from the central party to rethink over a possible pre-poll alliance in the State-level in the forthcoming general elections.
State BJP president KV Singh Deo unilaterally was sticking to his no-alliance stance until Saturday when he looked have relented. In the last meeting with central observer Dr Chandan Mitra, the State leadership was unanimous in not having any alliance with any fringe parties, while the latter was reportedly in favour of an alliance with likeminded parties so that the anti-Congress and BJD forces unitedly fight the polls.
The State leaders had categorically told that alliance would not help BJP any way in increasing its tally. Rather the small parties would capitalize on the Modi wave and be benefitted. Besides, the State leaders were totally averse to aligning with Pyarimohan Mohapatra’s OJM, though they were somehow agreeing for a merger with Soumya Ranjan Patnaik’s Ama Odisha and Kharvela Swain’s Utkal Bharat.
However, in a twist to his avowed stance, Singh Deo on Saturday in a changing tone said that final decision on alliance was yet to be made. He indicated that the entire issue would be discussed threadbare with State Pravari Mitra and leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley on Monday next. Notwithstanding the reluctance of the State BJP leadership, the central leadership of the party is keen to stitch up an alliance with fringe political parties in the State. The central leadership feels the need for potential allies in Odisha to achieve the goal despite the Modi wave as Odisha party’s organisational base is weak.
Meanwhile, Jaitley and Mitra are scheduled to visit Odisha for Monday in a renewed effort to persuade the State leaders to agree to an alliance with some of the smaller parties. During his visit here last week, Mitra had discussed with Aam Odisha president Patnaik and Utkal Bharat president Swain over the prospect of an alliance, which did not go down well with the State leadership.
The State leadership is particularly peeved about the central leadership’s keenness to forge an alliance with Mohapatra’s OJM, who they feel a betrayer, being instrumental in the break- up of BJP-BJD alliance just before the 2009 elections. However, the statement of BJP spokesperson Suresh Pujari indicates that the party is having a rethink over a possible alliance. “In politics all options are open, particularly at the time of elections. Since the country is keen to see Narendra Modi as the next Prime Minister, we are keen to tap all possible sources to add to our vote base,” Pujari said.