Bhubaneswar, March 18: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has taken a strategic approach in announcing its candidates for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The BJD is believed to defer the announcement of its candidates by at least a fortnight after the election dates were declared.
The party also believes it has ample time for candidate selection, especially since the first phase of elections is scheduled to begin on May 13, covering four Lok Sabha and 28 Assembly seats. By waiting for the BJP to release its initial list of candidates, the BJD aims to make decisions and strategically position its contenders.
The BJD plans to announce candidates in phases. This approach serves two key purposes. By delaying announcements, the party hopes to prevent disgruntled ticket aspirants from resigning and defecting to other political parties due to time constraint. The party aims to identify candidates who can effectively challenge their BJP counterparts.
BJD leader Nrusingha Charan Sahu said that there are numerous ticket aspirants within the party. Some aspirants may be disappointed if they don’t get tickets, but the party believes it can manage any dissent.
Contrary to expectations, the BJD does not anticipate rebellion within its ranks following the candidate announcements.
BJD remains confident in its electoral preparedness. Naveen Patnaik, the incumbent Chief Minister, is poised to create history by serving a sixth consecutive term.The party’s focus is on maintaining its stronghold and securing victory in both Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies.
In this high-stakes political battle, all eyes are on the candidate announcements, and the BJD is playing its cards strategically to secure electoral success