Modi's campaign for BJP to benefit us, says Odisha Cong

The Odisha Congress Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to campaign for the BJP for next year's assembly elections in the state, claiming it would actually benefit the opposition party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Odisha on December 24 and address a public meeting at Khurda. He is also scheduled to visit IIT, Bhubaneswar on the same day, BJP sources said.

"The BJP has lost in more than 70 per cent assembly constituencies where Narendra Modi has campaigned during the recent elections in five states. It will be better for us if he campaigns for his party in Odisha also," Patnaik said.

"We welcome Sri Modi to campign more aggressively in Odisha," Patnaik told reporters on his return from Chhattisgarh where he attended the swearing in ceremony of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress.

Asked about the prospects of the Congress in the Assembly elections in the Biju Janata Dal ruled Odisha due next year, the OPCC president said the outcome of the Assembly elections in neighbouring Chhattisgarh will be repeated in Odisha.

The Congress registered a landslide victory in the Chhattisgarh polls, bringing an end to the 15-year rule of the BJP. It won 68 seats in the 90-member Assembly, while the BJP got only 15 seats.