The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which had initiated talks with fringe parties in Odisha for entering into alliance on the insistence of its central leaders to improve its vote share in the state, today ruled out pre-poll truck with any political outfit in the state.
“Do you see anything happening (towards formation of alliance)? The issue of alliance was created by the media, let us bury this issue now,” Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo, president, BJP state unit, told media persons here.
Over the past two weeks, BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Chandan Mitra had visited the state to discuss with several smaller and relatively new parties in Odisha to maximise winning possibilities of BJP candidates in the assembly and Lok Sabha (LS) polls, much to the reluctance of state leaders who were in favour of going it alone in the polls.
After much discussion and deliberations, the state BJP leaders had agreed to have seat sharing arrangements with three parties — Samata Kranti, Ama Odisha Party and Utkal Bharat. However, the talks remained inconclusive as the parties demanded larger number of seats.
“As of now nothing is happening (about alliance),” said Singhdeo.
Ama Odisha has indicated that it cannot comment about its alliance with BJP while Samata Kranti said, it was awaiting for the saffron party’s response over seat sharing. Kharabela Swain of Utkal Bharat could not be reached for comments.
The BJP, meanwhile, has released its list of nominees for Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Out of 21 parliamentary constituencies, the party has named candidates for nine seats. Similarly, out of 147 assembly seats, names of 50 candidates have been declared so far.
Within days of announcing its candidates for Odisha, the party has faced first voice of dissent with nominee for Khariar assembly seat and MLA, Hitesh Bagarati refusing to contest election citing personal reasons. The BJP state leaders said, they would discuss the matter with Bagarti.
“It is true that Bagarti had desired to costest the Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat, but the party wanted him to contest the assembly polls. There is no question of making him a Lok Sabha candidate as we have already declared our nominee for Kalahandi seat,” said the BJP state president. The party also faced another setback as its senior leader BImbadhar Kuanr today joined BJD after meeting Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik at his residence.
“Do you see anything happening (towards formation of alliance)? The issue of alliance was created by the media, let us bury this issue now,” Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo, president, BJP state unit, told media persons here.
Over the past two weeks, BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Chandan Mitra had visited the state to discuss with several smaller and relatively new parties in Odisha to maximise winning possibilities of BJP candidates in the assembly and Lok Sabha (LS) polls, much to the reluctance of state leaders who were in favour of going it alone in the polls.
After much discussion and deliberations, the state BJP leaders had agreed to have seat sharing arrangements with three parties — Samata Kranti, Ama Odisha Party and Utkal Bharat. However, the talks remained inconclusive as the parties demanded larger number of seats.
“As of now nothing is happening (about alliance),” said Singhdeo.
Ama Odisha has indicated that it cannot comment about its alliance with BJP while Samata Kranti said, it was awaiting for the saffron party’s response over seat sharing. Kharabela Swain of Utkal Bharat could not be reached for comments.
The BJP, meanwhile, has released its list of nominees for Lok Sabha and assembly elections. Out of 21 parliamentary constituencies, the party has named candidates for nine seats. Similarly, out of 147 assembly seats, names of 50 candidates have been declared so far.
Within days of announcing its candidates for Odisha, the party has faced first voice of dissent with nominee for Khariar assembly seat and MLA, Hitesh Bagarati refusing to contest election citing personal reasons. The BJP state leaders said, they would discuss the matter with Bagarti.
“It is true that Bagarti had desired to costest the Kalahandi Lok Sabha seat, but the party wanted him to contest the assembly polls. There is no question of making him a Lok Sabha candidate as we have already declared our nominee for Kalahandi seat,” said the BJP state president. The party also faced another setback as its senior leader BImbadhar Kuanr today joined BJD after meeting Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik at his residence.
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