The Bihar election results have their political impact in Odisha.
The Congress here is upbeat and the BJD is amused. And the BJP in the State is demoralised.
Congress activists here bust crackers as the party made a spectacular show by winning in 26 seats in Bihar this time against only four in the 2010 Assembly polls.
Congress people here also rejoice for another reason that “Narendra Modi can be defeated as is proved from the Bihar polls and, therefore, the BJP will never be a force to replace the Congress so as to win elections in Odessa replacing the BJD”.
A Congress leader said his party would continue to remain as the main opposition party in Odisha and prepare itself to fight against the BJD.
The BJD is happy because it expects that the Modi wave is unlikely to work further to pose any threat by the BJP to wrest power from it. A BJD leader quipped that Dharmendra Pradhan’s “dream” to become Chief Minister of Odisha after the next elections would remain a “daydream”.
Biju Yuva Janata Dal (BYJD) general secretary Bijay Nayak described the Bihar poll verdict as a “tight slap on the face of the NDA Government” led by Modi at the Centre.
Many BJP State leaders, while cutting sorry figures over the Bihar scenario, are now hopeful that the party high command would of late realise their folly of ignoring State leaderships as in Bihar.
The BJP central leadership is confused over Odisha matters. They must make it clear that whether they want to remain with Naveen Patnaik or oppose him. Unless one opposes Patnaik, there is no possibility of bringing the BJP to power in the State, said a senior party leader, adding that unless the BJP high command gives freedom to
Odisha leaders, the party should forget to win elections in the State.