In a significant development, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), JP Nadda, held separate meetings with senior leaders of their respective parties to explore the possibility of BJD’s return to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday.
Naveen Patnaik engaged in discussions with numerous senior BJD leaders in Bhubaneshwar to gather feedback on various aspects of forming a coalition with the BJP. Similarly, JP Nadda met with key members of BJP’s state core committee in New Delhi, including state unit president Manmohan Samal, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Odisha in-charge Sunil Bansal, former Union Minister Jual Oram, and party’s state general secretary (organization) Manas Mohanty, among others.
During these meetings, there were deliberations on potential alliances and coalition plans. The central leadership of both parties will ultimately make a final decision based on these discussions and feedback.
The discussions follow a recent statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described Naveen Patnaik as a “popular CM” during a visit to Odisha. In return, the Odisha chief minister praised Modi’s efforts in India’s economic development and his focused attention on Odisha’s progress.
Speculations about a BJP-BJD coalition arose after BJD supported railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw as the BJP nominee for a second Rajya Sabha term. Additionally, Modi’s refraining from criticizing Naveen during a recent rally further fueled these speculations.
The camaraderie between BJP and BJD has been evident since the 2019 elections. BJD has supported the Modi government on several contentious issues, indicating a cooperative relationship. Even during debates on sensitive topics like the abrogation of Article 370 and the Citizenship Amendment Act, BJD has sided with the BJP.
Notably, BJD had previously formed a coalition with BJP shortly after its inception in 1997. Naveen Patnaik served as a minister in Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s cabinet during this period. However, BJD severed ties with BJP ahead of the 2009 elections, with Naveen withdrawing from the NDA abruptly in March 2009. This move was seen as a strategic decision to pursue victory independently, which proved successful.
The ongoing discussions between BJD and BJP leaders indicate a potential realignment in Odisha’s political landscape. The final decision on whether BJD will rejoin the NDA will likely have significant implications for both parties and the state’s political dynamics.
Comments