Indus Valley Times

By Nalini Sahu
Bhubaneswar, March 16: Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, appearing unperturbed over the recent reverses in Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha bypolls and Bijepur assembly bypoll defeat, – came down on the BJD accusing the latter of entering into a “tacit pact” with the Congress to prevent the BJP from coming power in the state in 2019.
Mr Pradhan, who arrived here to a rousing welcome by state BJP leaders after being elected to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, – said the BJD headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was apprehensive of retaining power in the state in next elections and hence it had joined hands with the “corrupt” Congress.
“In the last 18 years, the BJD has only sold dreams to people of Odisha. They have pushed to the state to the brink of underdevelopment. The youths and common people have started believing the development agenda of the Narendra Modi government, and hence, they have now made the BJP the number two political force in the state. I’m sure, people will give us the responsibility to form the government in 2019,” said Mr Pradhan.
Dismissing the impact of the BJP’s defeat in Bijepur assembly bypoll on the party’s electoral prospects in the 2019, the Union minister said the saffron party had managed to garner more votes than 2015 elections.
“In Bijepur bypoll, the BJD and Congress joined hands to defeat the BJP. And again, they are planning to fight the next assembly polls together to keep the BJP at bay. The BJP has realized their game-plan and redrawing its strategy,” said Mr Pradhan.
The BJD reacted to Mr Pradhan’s remarks saying the Union minister was spinning an improbable theory to confuse the public.
“The Union minister Mr Pradhan must read history. Biju Patnaik, father present Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, was a strong critic of former Prime Minister and Congress leader Indira Gandhi and Naveen continues to fight against the same party. There is no question of the BJD joining hands with the Congress,” said senior BJD leader Debi Prasad Mishra.
Sources said the welcome celebrations were part of a well planned strategy made by Odisha BJP to rejuvenate party in the state after the recent Bijepur