Lok Sabha election: Naveen Patnaik’s BJD contests 13 seats, BJP in 8: report

The BJD had severed ties with the BJP-led NDA in 2009 following differences during seat-sharing negotiations following an 11-year political partnership.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik in Sambalpur on February 3, 2024 (File Photo: ANI)

Amid the upcoming Lok Sabha and state assembly elections in Odisha, there are speculations about a possible unification between the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJD had severed ties with the BJP-led NDA in 2009 following differences during seat-sharing negotiations following an 11-year political partnership.

According to a India today According to the report, sources in the BJD have hinted that the party may consider offering 13 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP while retaining eight for itself. On the other hand, the BJP is reportedly expecting nine Lok Sabha seats and 55 seats in the Odisha elections. Currently, the BJP has eight Lok Sabha seats and 23 MLAs in the state Assembly.

The potential renewed alliance between the BJD and the BJP could have a significant impact on the political landscape in Odisha and shape the dynamics of the upcoming elections. Both sides appear to be exploring the possibility of joining forces again, although no formal announcement has been made yet.

BJD leaders discuss potential alliance with BJP during a three-hour meeting

In a major development, BJD leaders gathered for a lengthy three-hour meeting at Naveen Niwas, the official residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. At the same time, Odisha’s BJP leaders held talks with Home Minister Amit Shah and party chief JP Nadda in New Delhi, focusing on election-related issues, including the possibility of forming an alliance with the BJD, as evidenced by several media reports.

During the meeting, BJD’s vice-president and MLA Debi Prasad Mishra confirmed that discussions were taking place on a possible tie-up with the BJP.

A press release issued jointly by Debi Mishra and BJD senior general secretary Arun Kumar Sahoo revealed that the meeting involved extensive discussions among senior leaders on the strategic approach for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections.

REMARK: Odisha has 21 Lok Sabha seats and 147 constituencies. Of the 21 Lok Sabha seats, 13 are without reserves, while 3 are SC seats and 5 are ST seats.