In a situation far from achieving its oft-repeated “Mission Odisha: 120+” (more than 120 of the 147 State Assembly seats), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contest from the Puri Parliamentary constituency so that its fortunes soar in the 2019 elections in Odisha under a Modi impact.
BJP State president Basant Panda told reporters here on Friday that a proposal has been made for Modi to fight polls from Puri. A final decision in this regard would be taken by the BJP Parliamentary Board, he added.
In fact, reports have been circulating since long that the Prime Minister might contest this time from Puri, the Jagannath Dham, quitting his present seat of holy Varanasi. But for the first time, the BJP has now officially confirmed the “rumours”.
In reaction, Puri Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Pinaki Misra, when contacted, parried a question as to what impact Modi’s contest, if it happens, would have on his bid to seek reelection from Puri. Misra only remarked that in a democracy anyone can contest elections from anywhere in the country.
Meanwhile, the BJP State leaders feel upbeat over the results of a survey by a national TV channel that the party is likely to get 13 out of the State’s 21 Lok Sabha seats with the BJD winning in six and the Congress two.