No political alliance before polls, says Odisha BJP

Bhubaneswar: A day after BJP’s senior leader Chandan Mitra holding discussion with chiefs of two small political parties in Odisha for an alliance ahead of polls, the party’s state leadership today categorically rejected the move. “We will not go for any kind of alliance with any political party in Odisha,” BJP state president KV Singhdeo announced after rejecting any possibility of forging alliance or front before the elections. [caption id=“attachment_1409823” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Representational image. AFP[/caption] Stating that the BJP’s state leadership is all set to welcome any leader to join BJP, Singhdeo said they are strongly opposed to any kind of alliance. Mitra during his one-day visit to Odisha yesterday, had met Ama Odisha president Soumya Ranjan Patnaik and Utkal Bharat party chief Kharavel Swain. “We have just started discussion on the possible alliance,” Mitra had said. While Mitra entered into discussion with leaders of the small parties, the state unit of BJP has no such plans. Meanwhile, Rajya Sabha MP and leader of Odisha Janmorcha (OJM) Pyarimohan Mohapatra said he was optimistic about an allaince with the national party. “I have spoken to BJP’s central leaders and they are keen for it. If they (central leader of BJP) suggest, I may start talks with the state leaders,” Mohapatra said. As the situation regarding a possible front remained unclear, sources said, Mitra was likely to visit Odisha again and make the state leader understand the significance of an allainace before the elections. PTI