The unilateral betrayal of the people’s mandate by Shri Naveen Patnaik on the eve of simultaneous Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha elections presents a remarkable opportunity to make a new beginning for Orissa. By associating with the CPI(M), B-team of the Congress, the Biju Janata Dal has abandoned the anti-Congress legacy of the State. The people of Orissa are fully aware that during the 11-year alliance with the BJD, the BJP gave unstinted support to the Chief Minister to overcome every political difficulty he faced. When the NDA was in power under Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dynamic leadership, Orissa’s development was top priority for the Union Government. Much of the State’s present prosperity is a result of the BJP’s resolute commitment to this goal.
Given this reality, people of Orissa must be told why a perfectly harmonious, development-oriented alliance was abruptly broken off without any provocation from the BJP? Was it only because of differences over seat sharing or was there a hidden agenda? Shri Patnaik has to answer the fundamental question: Why did he break an alliance that had done so much for Orissa’s development? He must also answer why he has chosen to associate with Left parties that have denounced him loudly for over a decade?
Shri Patnaik must also come clean why he has opted to ally with the JMM which openly champions the breaking up of Orissa and merger of at least three districts with Jharkhand? He must also tell the people why the Church, which should stay away from politics, has complimented him for breaking the alliance with the BJP?
Other intriguing aspects of his inexplicable decision also need to be highlighted. How come the Congress, the principal opposition party, has reacted so mutedly to this development? Is it because they realise that, by this action, Shri Naveen Patnaik has abandoned the anti-Congress space, which his been the cornerstone of his politics all these years?
The people of Orissa now have a great opportunity to affirm their faith in good governance, all-round economic development and empowerment of tribals, Dalits and other underprivileged sections. The BJP is the only party that can resolutely implement this agenda because unlike others, it does not believe in opportunism, shifting alliances and political somersaults. The BJP has taken up this challenge with renewed commitment and determination.
In order to provide an efficient, clean and purposeful Government in the State, our party will contest all 147 Assembly seats. We are confident that the people will give an opportunity to the BJP to form a Government on its own to make Orissa’s dream a reality. For that to be achieved it is necessary that the BJP comes to power not only in the State but also that the NDA gets a clear mandate for Delhi. Accordingly, the BJP will contest all 21 Lok Sabha seats from the State so that Orissa’s voice is powerfully represented in Delhi. An unequivocal mandate for the BJP to form a Government in Orissa and head the Government in Delhi under Shri Lal Krishna Advani’s decisive leadership will ensure unimaginable transformation of the State and the nation.
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