The success of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the three central Indian States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh has forced Odisha’s ruling party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), to sit up and take notice.
The State BJP leaders hope that their party’s Assembly wins, especially in Chhattisgarh, eight of whose districts share their boundaries with the central Indian State, will have a ripple effect in Odisha. On the other hand, the BJD, known for its well-oiled election machinery, is not looking to take any chances.
Sources say the BJD, led by its President and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is working on a two-pronged strategy to secure its sixth consecutive triumph in the Assembly election, scheduled with the Lok Sabha poll, next year.
