BJP anticipates early assembly polls in Odisha, says party to lock horns with BJD

By Swagatika Bhutia

BHUBANESWAR, DEC 10: Union minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said he heard about the possibility of Odisha going to an early assembly poll exercise, though the duration of the present Assembly expires in May 2024.

“We are hearing about Odisha going to early assembly polls. If it happens, we are ready for that. We’ll fight elections with all might,” Mr Pradhan told reporters here on the sidelines of a vernacular newspaper’s anniversary celebration.

The duration of the present Assembly expires in May 2024.

Sources said a group of ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leaders is mulling the options of holding early assembly polls as the morale of the party cadres have gone high after the landslide victory in Padmpur  assembly bypoll. The BJD candidate Barsha Singh Bariha won the seat by a margin of over 42,679 votes over the BJP nominee Pradip Purohit.

Asked on the impact of the Padampur bypoll on the 2024 assembly elections, the Union minister said, “Many days are left for the assembly polls in the state. Several issues will emerge before that. As per democratic norms, parties will fight the elections with their agendas. We had also fought in 2019 and now we are the major Opposition party in the state.

He continued, “We are fighting with all our responsibilities and agendas. I strongly believe that the people of Odisha have immense faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of the state, and we will do so.”

Speaking about the outcome of the Padampur bypoll, the Union minister said, “What we had thought has not materialised. However, we accept the mandate in Padampur. Boasting is natural for the winner. However, they must keep it in mind that the BJP has garnered 78,000 votes.”