BJD spent money to cause BJP’s loss in Chhattisgarh elections: Pradip Purohit

Bhubaneswar: Even as the BJP registered victory in the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, its Odisha unit leader Pradip Purohit today made a serious allegation accusing the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of spending money in the state with an intention of causing loss to the saffron party in the polls.

“The BJD spent crores of rupees in a bid to prevent BJP’s victory in the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. Several BJD leaders from western Odisha went to Chhattisgarh and tried to influence people to vote against the BJP. They had also done the same in the previous election,” said Purohit.

“The BJP will form government in Odisha in 2024 and no one can stop it. BJP’s win in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan is an alarm for the BJD and its leaders. The poll results of Chhattisgarh will impact western Odisha as well as coastal Odisha,” he said.

Coming down heavily on Purohit for his statement, Congress leader Panchanan Kanungo said, “The BJD’s formation was funded by BJP leaders Lal Krishna Advani and Pramod Mahajan. The BJP should protect itself in Odisha first. Both BJD and BJP will be eliminated from the state.”

“The BJD, being in power in Odisha, has been providing money to the BJP. The saffron party was raising the Mahanadi water dispute involving Chhattisgarh and Odisha during Congress’ rule in the neighbouring state. With the BJP coming to power in Chhattisgarh, it will be interesting to see the future move of the leaders of the BJD and the BJP,” Kanungo added.