BJP claims it is the ‘only alternative’ to BJD in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Brahmapur, Aug 2:

The BJP, which had to remain content with just one MP and 10 MLA seats in Odisha in the last general elections despite a countrywide Modi wave, today claimed that it was the only alternative to the ruling BJD in Odisha while describing the Congress as a “sinking party.”

A confident Arun Singh, BJP’s Odisha in-charge, said; “BJP is the only alternative to the BJD in the state. The party is strengthening its organization at all levels and has begun preparations in right earnest to face next gram panchayat, civic bodies, state assembly and Lok Sabha elections”.

Singh, who was here to attend a meeting of the BJP state unit to review the causes of BJP candidates’ failure in the last elections in southern part of the state, said the party would launch a membership drive from next January and try to increase the party’s membership ten-fold in the next few years.

The party will highlight and use the mining, chit fund, coal and illegal land allotment scams to its advantage to strengthen its organizational base in the state, said Singh.

At the same time, party would also spread messages of achievements of Modi government at the Centre in the coming days to attract people to the party, he said.

While alleging use of money and muscle power by BJD candidates to win elections, BJP state unit president KV Singhdeo said the review revealed lack of coordination between party candidates for Lok Sabha and Assembly seats.

Singhdeo said “We had earlier said there are 45 political leaders involved in the chit fund scam. Let us wait to know their names”.