Bhubaneswar, March 11: Amid speculations over the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Odisha Governor Raghubar Das on Monday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, a day after Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal, organizational secretary Manas Mohanty, election in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar and co-in charge Lata Usendi, left for the national capital.
Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Odisha Governor termed his meeting with Shah as a courtesy call.
The visit assumes significance as it happens amid the BJP central leadership’s urgent call to the state unit leaders to Delhi for a discussion which is likely to be held today.
Earlier, the state BJP president Samal had refuted any alliance talks with BJD after returning from New Delhi.
This meeting could finalize candidate selections for the Lok Sabha and assembly seats in the upcoming elections, shedding light on the possibility of an alliance between the BJP and BJD in Odisha, as rumoured.
While BJP leaders deny any alliance talks with the ruling party for the ensuing General Election 2024, BJD sources say that initial discussions have taken place at the highest level.
Analysts believe that an alliance between the BJP and BJD could secure victory across all 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, even though the Congress may see an increase in its vote share.
