After being in power in Odisha for three terms, the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) may still end up winning, thanks to a divided Opposition and the clean image that the Chief Minister enjoys.
Both the Congress and the BJP are expected to improve their vote share, but it is not clear whether this mean more seats.
Opinion polls suggest a dip in the BJD’s vote share, but forecast that it will still bag almost half of the 21 parliamentary seats at worst up to 18 at best.
Besides national parties BJP, Congress and CPI, new ones such as Ama Odisha Party, backed by Saumya Ranjan Patnaik, former Congress MP and editor of Odiya daily
All three large parties — BJD, Congress and BJP — say they will improve their performance over the previous elections. BJD MP Baijayant Panda said people will vote for good governance and the party will improve its position in both Assembly and Parliamentary polls.
BJP’s Odisha Chief KV Singh Deo maintained that whosoever forms the government in the State will need his party’s support .
Highly optimisticAnd Jayadev Jena, president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee, exuded optimism that his party will double its tally in Parliament from six in 2009 and also regain power in the State.
The Opposition in the State is divided and the ruling BJD has been helped by in-fighting within opposition ranks.
Discontent among peopleNiranjan Patnaik, former President of Pradesh Congress Committee, who was shifted in mid-2013, admitted, “There is discontentment among people. But, we in Opposition are unable to transfer it to votes.
“Neither the Congress nor the BJP is able to reach the people…Though Congress and BJP will gain, it will not be to the extent full extent possible.”
“Congress and BJP — they are divided house. They are unable to consolidate their position and benefit from the anti-incumbency as they should.
“The Congress high command feels having a backward caste leader will help consolidate backward caste votes….But, what is true for UP or Bihar is not true of Odisha. Odisha’s cultural milieu is different. Odisha does not believe in voting based on caste or religion,” said Saumya Ranjan Patnaik of Ama Odisha Party, who was expelled from Congress.
Saumya Ranjan Patnaik happens to be brother of Niranjan Patnaik and son-in-law of JB Patnaik, former Chief Minister from Congress Party, Odisha.
Though there are no pre-poll alliances and BJD maintains that it is equidistant from both BJP and Congress, there are some who say there is a secret alliance between BJP and BJD.
Secret alliance?BJD’s Baijyant Panda would only say his party would play a role in Government formation in the Centre.
Kharabela Swain, former BJP MP, who is contesting under the Ama Odisha Party banner, said there was a secret alliance between BJP and BJD.
Naveen Patnaik backed out from the Third Front coalition meeting with Left parties only after the BJP initiated talks to tie up with emerging outfits such as Ama Odisha Party.