Odisha elections: CM dismisses PM Modi’s Tripura-like win claim

BHUBANESWAR: Chief minister Naveen Patnaik has dismissed PM Narendra Modi’s assertion that Odisha’s Lok Sabha election results will be a shocker like that of

Tripura

, where BJP had wiped out Left Front to form the government last year.

“Odisha Hindustan ko surprise kar dega. Is baar Odisha dusra Tripura ban jayega. (Odisha will surprise India. It will become a second Tripura),” Modi had said in response to a question from Pabitra Parida, a fisherman from Kendrapda during his interaction at the ‘MainBhiChowkidar’ programme on Sunday.

“I have seen people’s response during my recent visit to Odisha,” the PM said at the interaction held to counter Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s oft-repeated jibe “Chowkidar chor hai”.

But Naveen exuded confidence about the BJD doing well during his interaction with the media at his residence on Monday. “BJD will do very well, as I have said earlier,” was his emphatic response when asked about Modi’s remark. In 2014 simultaneous elections, BJD had captured 118 assembly seats and 20 LS seats while BJP had won just one LS and 10 assembly seats.

Naveen is seeking re-election for the fifth term like the former Tripura CM Manik Sarkar, who had failed to lead the CPM to a fifth term under his leadership. The BJP’s surprise victory dislodging the Left Front’s 25-year rule in the north-eastern state had shocked everyone.

BJD has been facing desertions with three sitting MPs and four MLAs joining the BJP fold soon after being denied ticket. When BJD released the first list of 54 candidates for assembly seats, 24 sitting MLAs were replaced by new faces. In eight out of nine Lok Sabha seats in the first phase announcement, Naveen fielded new candidates. But as discontentment came out in the open, the party had to be pipe down a little.

However, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said the discontentment will have no bearing on the results. “The discontentment is more in BJP. Those who have got BJP tickets also want to come to BJD apprehending defeat,” Patra said.

The BJP said its mission 120 plus is very much alive and kicking. BJP national president Amit Shah also on Monday said the Odisha needs young chief minister. The party has been projecting young faces Dharmendra Pradhan, Sambit Patra and Baijayant Panda.