Naveen to decide on advancement of Odisha assembly polls

Biju Janata Dal today said that its president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will decide whether to advance the assembly polls if the Centre goes for early general elections next year.
"We had earlier advanced elections in Odisha in 2004. The next assembly elections is due in 2019. Our party president and chief minister will take a decision on advancement of the (next) assembly polls," BJD vice-president and senior minister S N Patro told reporters.
Patro said this while replying a query on whether the state's BJD government will agree to go for advancement of assembly elections, if the Centre decides to hold early polls along with a few state elections in November-December 2018.

Certain states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh are going to polls in November-December 2018. Barring Mizoram, BJP is in power in the three other states.
BJD, which is in power in Odisha since 2000, had advanced the assembly polls slated for 2005 and held it along with Lok Sabha election in 2004.
AICC general secretary in-charge of Odisha B K Hariprasad said, "We are ready to face elections any time. We do not welcome such proposal, but if elections are held early, the Congress will face the challenge."
BJP Legislature Party Leader K V Singhdeo said that his party would welcome a proposal to advance the elections for the state assembly.