BJP-BJD Alliance: There are discussions about the possibility of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, and the BJP renewing their relationship ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and the state assembly elections. Leaders of both parties have made suggestions of a re-alliance, even though there hasn’t been a formal announcement of the same. After an 11-year political collaboration, the BJD broke apart from the BJP-led NDA in 2009 over the breakdown of seat-sharing negotiations.
BJD’s Proposed 13 Lok Sabha Seats
According to BJD insiders who spoke with India Today, the party can agree to 13 Lok Sabha seats, which would give the BJP eight. Ahead of the Odisha assembly polls, the BJP is targeting 55 seats in addition to nine Lok Sabha seats. The BJP currently has 23 MLAs and eight MPs in the Lok Sabha. Odisha has 147 assembly constituencies and up to 21 Lok Sabha seats.
On Wednesday, BJD leaders met for three hours at Patnaik’s home, Naveen Niwas, in Bhubaneswar. Concurrently, in New Delhi, representatives of the Odisha BJP met with Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, and JP Nadda, the party chairman, to discuss election-related issues, including the possibility of forming an alliance with Naveen Patnaik’s faction.
Acknowledgment of Alliance Talks
Vice president of the BJD and MLA Debi Prasad Mishra acknowledged that talks on a potential alliance with the BJP had taken place after the meeting. He asserted that the state has made remarkable progress under Naveen Patnaik’s leadership, telling reporters that the BJD would “prioritise the greater interests of the people of Odisha.”
Intensive Discussion on Election Strategy
An intensive discussion was held with senior leaders “regarding the strategy of the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections” at the meeting, according to a news release issued by Debi Mishra and BJD senior general secretary Arun Kumar Sahoo.
Senior BJP leader and MP Jual Oram acknowledged the coalition negotiations in a similar manner, but he stated that the party’s central leadership would make the final decision on the agreement. “Yes, there were discussions on the alliance among other issues. The party’s central leadership will make the final call,” Oram said.
Recently, there has been increasing talk about the BJP and BJD getting back together ahead of the concurrent Odisha assembly elections and Lok Sabha elections. On February 29, though, both parties had already denied media allegations.
BJD’s Dominance in Parliamentary and Assembly Seats
The BJD secured 12 parliamentary seats and 112 assembly seats in 2019, compared to the BJP’s eight parliamentary seats and 23 assembly seats.
The most recent instance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Naveen Patnaik openly praising one another came on Tuesday, March 5, during the former’s visit to Odisha, when he unveiled many development projects valued at over Rs 19,600 crore in the Jaipur district of the eastern state.
Naveen Patnaik’s Birth Anniversary
On the occasion of Naveen Patnaik’s birth anniversary, PM Modi also honoured his father, the late Biju Patnaik, the former Chief Minister of Odisha. Speaking on behalf of the nation, the prime minister stated that “Biju Baba’s invaluable contributions” to the development of Odisha and the country “remain unmatched” and that it was an honour for him to be honoured.
BJD’s Winning Streak in Odisha Elections
After forming an alliance with the BJP in 1998, the BJD won two assembly elections in Odisha and three Lok Sabha elections. The BJD suggested to the BJP high command in 2009 that they run for 40 seats in the Lok Sabha instead of 63, and six assembly constituencies instead of nine. Following the BJP’s rejection of the proposal, Naveen Patnaik’s group decided to break away from the party.
Nonetheless, the BJD persisted in supporting the PM Modi-led central government in Parliament even after exiting the NDA. In the 2012, 2017 and 2022 presidential and vice presidential elections, Naveen Patnaik’s camp also backed NDA candidates.
