Bhubaneswar, March 7: Fifteen years after they parted ways, the BJP & BJD, Odisha's number one and two parties, are likely to jain hands which is likely to help the Congress that will automatically be the main Opposition party.
Both parties on Wednesday held meetings. Senior BJD leaders held a marathon discussion at Naveen Niwas, the residence of Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while state level top BJP leaders joined a meeting with central leadership in New Delhi to take a final call regarding the possible alliance and seat sharing.
The alliance is likely to be formally announced soon with BJD's return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
After the tie-up, anti government votes will go to the grand old party with winning of 25 to 30 seats in the state, say political observers.
Besides, Congress leaders, who were planning to leave the party, will no more join in the party jumping game while BJP aspirants denied of tickets are likely to join the Congress.
According to reports, the alliance will formally be announced within three to four days.
The BJD had secured 48 percent vote share in 2019 Odisha Assembly election while BJP got 32 percent and Congress 16 percent. The vote share of the grand old party will rise by 15 percent as anti government votes will be added to its share.
