Buoyed Congress expects BJD ouster in Odisha in next polls

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha unit of Congress is upbeat over the Assembly election trends in five states, counting of which are underway.

The trends predicted a cakewalk for Congress in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan whereas Madhya Pradesh was heading for a cliffhanger. On the other hand, TRS and MNF were poised to form governments in Telangana and Mizoram.

The trends had it impact on Odisha too. With simultaneous elections most likely in early March next year, the Congress found its renewed vigour and pins to replicate the success model of other states in Odisha too.

Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Niranjan Patnaik said: “Prime Minister Modi wanted a Congress-free country. He should see the condition of his party in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where the BJP was in power. Now, the country is going to become a BJP-free nation.”

A visibly buoyed Patnaik further said, “After Chhattisgarh, I hope the same will repeat here in Odisha where people will reject the ruling BJD and give Congress the mandate for the government in the upcoming assembly elections.

“The way both BJP and BJD created a drought situation in Odisha, we hope to get some relief after discussing the Mahanadi issue with new government led by the Congress in Chhattisgarh,” he said.

On party’s outstanding performance in three states in assembly elections, senior Congress leader Suresh Kumar Routray said, “Under the leadership of Congress President Rahul Gandhi, there has been a tremendous change across the country.”

“People accepted Congress discarding the BJP in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Under the leadership of Niranjan Patnaik in Odisha, we all are united to make efforts to win 90 assembly seats and 15 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming elections,” he said.

“With emergence of the Congress, Naveen will drown in water and Modi will sweep floor,” he said adding “Naveen gone, Modi gone and Congress coming.”

The celebrations broke out in front of party offices across Odisha with busting of firecrackers, exchanging sweets and dancing to the beats of drums.