BJD, BJP accuse each other of nexus with Cong in rural polls

The ruling BJD in Odisha and opposition BJP accused each other of having an unholy nexus with the Congress in the state Panchayat elections.
The first phase of results for the Odisha Panchayat elections was officially announced today.
The issue was raised in the Assembly today during Zero Hour when senior BJP lawmaker Pradip Purohit accused the ruling BJD of forging an "unholy nexus" with the Congress to throttle the growth of BJP in Odisha.
"I see a new political equation emerging in Odisha politics. The ruling BJD has worked in tandem with the Congress to prevent BJP's growth in the state," Purohit said while reacting on the denial of permission by Speaker Niranjan Pujari on a debate over post-poll violence.

Purohit also alleged there was every possibility that the BJD would join hands with the Congress in the 2019 general elections as they have done so in the Panchayat elections this time in Odisha.
While results of the Sarpanch, Panchayat Samity and Ward Members were officially declared at different block headquarters today, the State Election Commission would announce the Zilla Parishad election results on February 25.

Ruling BJD member Samir Dash from Nimapara in Puri district rejected Purohit's allegations and claimed he could provide evidence of BJP candidates getting support of Congress activists in his home constituency.
"Though both BJP and Congress claim to have separate identities, they join hands when it comes to contesting BJD candidates. This has happened in Zilla Parishad Zone No. 21 at Nimapara.

"Here Congress supporters openly campaigned for BJP candidates. Is it not sufficient to prove that both national parties had joined hands to work against a regional party like BJD?" Dash asked.
Stating that the Nimapara incident had been repeated across the state, Dash said BJP's "evil design" to defeat BJD would fail.
He also alleged that BJP and Congress had joined hands in the ZP elections at Daringbadi in Kandhamal district.