Before the Lok Sabha elections, the alliance between BJP and BJD from Odisha state can be finalized soon. Leaders of both the parties say that the seat-sharing talks between BJP and BJD for the upcoming elections of State Assembly and Lok Sabha are almost complete, only the seal of approval is yet to be done.
Sources say that the seats for the Lok Sabha seats are fixed in both the parties, but a consensus is not yet being reached regarding the assembly seats.
Now there are reports that this deadlock between Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the top BJP leadership may also be resolved on Thursday.
Discussions have been going on for more than a week between the two parties BJP and BJD on seat-sharing for 147 assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats.
As far as the assembly elections are concerned, no consensus has been reached. People aware of the matter say that the state BJP team, including Odisha unit president Manmohan Samal, state unit in-charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday evening, including all 147 assembly seats and 21 Lok Sabha seats. But the prospects of the party were discussed.
Seat formula decided in Lok Sabha, agreement pending on Assembly
Leaders of both the parties say that the seat distribution for the Lok Sabha elections has more or less been resolved, in which BJP will get 14 seats and BJD will get 7 seats.
But both the parties are not able to agree on the assembly seats. Sources say that BJD is not ready to give more than 35 seats out of 147 seats, while BJP is demanding at least 50 seats.
Although the state unit of BJP had initially rejected the alliance proposal, it seems that after meeting the central leadership, a consensus may be reached on the alliance proposal.
PM Modi can take the final decision
BJP leaders aware of the matter have said that PM Modi can take the final decision on the alliance on Thursday as he has mooted the idea of expanding the NDA.
NDA may organize a grand dinner on March 14 (Thursday). In which Naveen Patnaik is likely to go to Delhi to discuss seat-sharing with top BJP leaders.
On the other hand, BJD leaders said that Patnaik has called a meeting of senior party leaders at Naveen Niwas on Thursday, after which he is likely to go to Delhi.
A BJD leader said that the Chief Minister can take the opinion of party leaders on how many assembly seats the party should give to the BJP.