Will take decision in Odisha’s interest at right time, says BJD amid coalition rumours

Bhubaneswar: Amid speculation over a coalition with the BJP ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha, the BJD announced that it would take appropriate decision in this regard while keeping in mind the state’s interests, hours after an unscheduled meeting of its senior leaders today.

“An extensive discussion was held under the leadership of BJD President and Honble CM Shri. Naveen Patnaik with the senior leaders of the Party today regarding the strategy of the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. In the discussions it was resolved that since by 2036, Odisha will complete 100 years of its statehood and BJD and Hon’ble CM has major milestones to be achieved by this time, therefore Biju Janata Dal will do everything towards this in the greater interests of people of Odisha and the state (sic),” said the joint statement issued by BJD senior vice president Debi Prasad Mishra and senior general secretary Arun Kumar Sahoo.

Around two dozen senior leaders of BJD including Pranab Prakash Das, Bikarm Keshari Arukha, Ranendra Pratap Swain, Debi Prasad Mishra, Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak, Arun Sahoo, Pratap Keshari Deb, Usha Devi, Tukuni Sahu, Ashok Panda, Sanjay Das Burma, Pradip Amat, Jagannath Saraka, Prafulla Mallick, Manas Mangaraj, Sasmit Patra, Pranab Balabantray, Sushant Rout and Subhas Singh were present at the meeting.