Bhubaneswar: Amid uncertainty surrounding a possible electoral alliance between the BJP and BJD in Odisha, Union Minister and BJP heavyweight Amit Shah today made a significant statement that fuelled further the speculation of an alliance.
Speaking at India Today Conclave 2024 on Friday regarding a possible alliance with BJD, the Union Minister said, “I can’t speak about this right now as the top party leadership, including BJP president JP Nadda and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have not decided how would we go ahead in Odisha. But whatever is the result, that we would gain a significant gain in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in Odisha.”
To a query whether it is philosophically possible for a tie-up between the No. 1 and No. 2 party in the State, Shah said “We are doing hardcore politics in which there is no place of philosophy. It is the arithmetic of victory and defeat. We have to strike a balance between winnability and ideology while choosing an ally.”
At the conclave, the Home Minister was speaking about the BJP’s alliance talks with various regional parties ahead of the General elections.
Speculations on alliance are doing rounds ever since both the parties have held multiple meetings in Delhi as well as Bhubaneswar. State BJP leaders are learnt to have discussed the matter with central leadership several times. Similarly, as per media reports BJD leaders also held a series of discussions with the BJP central leaders in Delhi in the last couple of days.
