The BJP may not see much improvement in its electoral fortunes in Odisha for the second time in a row, according to Chandan Mitra.
Mitra, a national executive member of the BJP and Rajya Sabha MP, was the party’s observer ( prabhari ) in Odisha until he recused himself to contest the Lok Sabha polls from West Bengal.
The party failed to win a single Parliamentary seat in Odisha in 2009, after the collapse of its alliance with the Naveen Patnaik-led ruling Biju Janata Dal. Of the 21 seats, the BJD won 14, the Congress six and the CPI one. “My efforts to build an alliance of parties (other than BJD) ran into a lot of roadblocks,” Mitra told
According to Mitra, Patnaik maintains a “magical hold” over the people despite a “pathetic record” in governance.
Restricted presence According to Mitra, the RSS and BJP retain a strong hold only in the tribal areas of western Odisha. But the absence of a strong organisation in coastal Odisha — that accounts for a majority of the 21 seats — is a drag on the party.
Attributing this failure partly to a “leadership problem,” Mitra said the party failed to bring up “charismatic leaders” who would successfully rival Patnaik.