On Wednesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the ongoing speculation regarding a potential alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha, stating that no definitive decision has been made yet.
Shah clarified that the final decision regarding any alliance would rest with the party president. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence in the BJP's prospects in Odisha, noting the palpable support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi among the people of the state.
During an event in Delhi, Shah asserted that the BJP is poised to significantly bolster its presence in Odisha, both in terms of Lok Sabha seats and the state Assembly, surpassing the expectations of political observers.
He outlined two possible scenarios: if an alliance materializes, both parties would contest elections under the leadership of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Conversely, if the BJP opts to contest independently, its goal would be to secure a mandate to form the government.
It's worth mentioning that V.K. Pandian, a trusted aide of CM Naveen Patnaik and Chairman of 5T, had previously hinted at ongoing discussions between the BJP and BJD regarding a potential alliance.
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