By Anurjay Dhal
BHUBANESWAR: The final outcome on BJD-BJP seat sharing may likely come out by tonight or tomorrow and a new political equation is going to materialise to ensure ‘Big Zero’ for Congress in coming Parliamentary polls in Odisha next week. And final announcement on BJD-BJP Coalition is likely to be announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is visiting Odisha on March 12.
It may be noted here that, BJD had snapped ties with BJP in March 2009 and after 15 years, both Parties reuniting in NDA giving a new imputes to National politics.
Highly placed sources said, BJD Supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s spin doctors are continuing talks with BJP central leadership amid opposition from Saffron Party’s State unit.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Party President JP Nadda, National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh , BJP’s Odisha In charge Sunil Bansal are continuing talks on seat sharing with BJD leadership , like Naveen Patnaik, VK Pandian and MP Pinaki Mishra. Odisha Resident Commissioner and IPS Officer Ravi Kant, sources said , also working overtime to ensure smooth transection between BJD and BJP. Another IPS Officer DS Kuttey, who is special secretary to CMO, is also actively monitoring the political equations.
Talks on Lok Sabha seat sharing is almost final and talks are on regarding seat sharing in Assembly seats, sources said.
Sources said, BJP State President Manmohan Samal and General Secretary (Organisation ) Manas Mohanty, many others like Jual Oram, are not in a mood to forge an alliance with BJD while BJP’s Central leaderships wants around 13 to 14 Lok Sabha seats from Odisha to ensure Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Aabki Baar 400 Par’ slogan gets its shape in the run up to the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
Another factor, sources said, it was also aimed to ensure Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s victory from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seats as his close aid Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw already got second term in Rajya Sabha , and he is also likely to continue in the Union Cabinet without facing direct elections.
As Vaishnaw also shared a very close bonding with Naveen Patnik’s Man Friday 5T-Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian and his right hand money purse, Mining Contractor B Prabhakaran, the Union Railways Minister too played a back door game behind BJD-BJP alliance, sources argued.
Since Vaishnaw inducted in Union Cabinet, B Prabhakaran using his clout, and now calling shots in Ministry of Railways, Ministry Coal –Mining and Power and most of NTPC Coal Mining work now being carried out by Thriveni Earth Movers Pvt Ltd and the company was a major bidder in the on-going Commercial Coal block auction.
BJP’s demand may be accepted by BJD , sources said adding that Naveen Patnaik is seriously considering to give at least 13 Lok Sabha seats to BJP at best.
BJP wants 13 to 14 Lok Sabha seats and 7 to 8 for BJD out of total 21 in the State while the Saffron Party wants around 46 to 52 seats in Assembly while agreeing for 95 to 100 seats to BJD in 147-members Odisha Assembly.
In last 2019 polls, BJP had won 8 Lok Sabha seat and 23 Assembly seats in Odisha with BJD having 12 Parliamentary seats and 112 Assembly seats.
Meanwhile, amid resignations, internal disturbances, mudslinging and overall, seemingly isolation of 5T-Nabin Odisha Chairman VK Pandian within the Biju Pariwar , Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik now in backfoot. Patnaik now started fearing that he may lose his control over Party since leaders started deserting it. Pandian’s excessive control over BJD and Government, seems has not gone with a large section within the Regional Party and the boat is missing its direction before crucial Lok Sabha and Assembly polls.
Patnaik and Pandian months before were claiming that they will bounce back to power with thumping majority while 5T-Nabin Odisha Chairman’s visit getting huge response from various district and crores of rupees spent on media house for lofty advertisements but what compelled BJD to go for alliance with BJP, is now a big question.
Since past one months, dozen over sitting MLA and former Minister, MLAs of BJD had joined BJP deserting BJD and clearly revolted against Naveen Patnaik, VK Pandian and Biju Pariwar. BJD MLAs like Arbinda Dhali, Prasant Jagdev, Premananda Nayak, Pradeep Panigrahi, Mukund Sodi, Former MLAs like Debasish Nayak, Raju Das, Nabin Chandra Narayan Das and many others already joined BJP, which has put Naveen Patnaik in a brainstorming mood.
Amid disturbances , Naveen Patnaik seems, apprehensive about his 6th term in Odisha and before any big trouble within the BJD, the Odisha Chief Minister now sheltering at BJP.
