BHUBANESWAR: Senior BJP heavyweight and Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address a public rally in Sonepur, a western Odisha assembly constituency under Balangir Lok Sabha seat, on April 25. The development comes days after chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced his decision to contest from Kantabanji, another western Odisha assembly segment under Balangir Lok Sabha seat, apart from his home turf, Hinjili, in the southern part of the state.
Shah’s proposed public address would be keenly watched in the wake of the failed coalition bid between the BJD and BJP last month.On March 22, both the parties decided to go solo in all the 147 assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Though BJP leaders in the state have come down heavily against the BJD from time to time, the saffron party’s top brass in New Delhi has so far refrained from targeting Naveen.
“All eyes will be on Shah’s tone and tenure during his Odisha visit. Naveen enjoys solid rapport with Narendra Modi. We have to see whether BJP’s central leadership, including Shah, targets Naveen, especially after the failed alliance bid,” said Debasis Das, a political analyst.
While giving an interview to a news channel in Delhi on Friday, Shah urged the people of Odisha to give BJP a chance to serve this time. “Our party members in Odisha were not in favour of an alliance with the BJD. Our workers wanted to fight solo to protect Odia pride, identity, language and culture. We urge the Odisha people to give BJP an opportunity to usher in growth in the state under the leadership of Narendra Modi,” Shah said.
BJP leaders in the state are eagerly awaiting Shah’s visit. “Shahji will blow the poll bugle from Sonepur. The BJP has been fighting for Odia identity and pride. His visit would boost the morale of our workers,” senior BJP leader Gopal Mohapatra said.
Western Odisha, considered as a BJP bastion, is currently the focal point of state politics following candidatures of heavyweights, including Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJD strongman Pranab Prakash Das (both from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat) and Naveen himself from Kantabanji assembly segment.
In the 2019 elections, BJP had won all five western Odisha Lok Sabha seats — Balangir, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Kalahandi. BJD had bagged 22 of the 35 assembly seats in western Odisha, with the BJP winning 8.
Shah’s proposed public address would be keenly watched in the wake of the failed coalition bid between the BJD and BJP last month.On March 22, both the parties decided to go solo in all the 147 assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Though BJP leaders in the state have come down heavily against the BJD from time to time, the saffron party’s top brass in New Delhi has so far refrained from targeting Naveen.
“All eyes will be on Shah’s tone and tenure during his Odisha visit. Naveen enjoys solid rapport with Narendra Modi. We have to see whether BJP’s central leadership, including Shah, targets Naveen, especially after the failed alliance bid,” said Debasis Das, a political analyst.
While giving an interview to a news channel in Delhi on Friday, Shah urged the people of Odisha to give BJP a chance to serve this time. “Our party members in Odisha were not in favour of an alliance with the BJD. Our workers wanted to fight solo to protect Odia pride, identity, language and culture. We urge the Odisha people to give BJP an opportunity to usher in growth in the state under the leadership of Narendra Modi,” Shah said.
BJP leaders in the state are eagerly awaiting Shah’s visit. “Shahji will blow the poll bugle from Sonepur. The BJP has been fighting for Odia identity and pride. His visit would boost the morale of our workers,” senior BJP leader Gopal Mohapatra said.
Western Odisha, considered as a BJP bastion, is currently the focal point of state politics following candidatures of heavyweights, including Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, BJD strongman Pranab Prakash Das (both from Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat) and Naveen himself from Kantabanji assembly segment.
In the 2019 elections, BJP had won all five western Odisha Lok Sabha seats — Balangir, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh and Kalahandi. BJD had bagged 22 of the 35 assembly seats in western Odisha, with the BJP winning 8.
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