BJP central leaders arrive in Odisha to prepare strategy for 2024 elections

Bhubaneswar: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from New Delhi arrived in Odisha on Friday to prepare the party’s state organisation for the 2024 Lok Sabha and State Assembly polls.

Soon after their landing in Bhubaneswar, the saffron party’s national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh, regional in-charge Sunil Bansal and state co-in charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar were huddled up with the state office-bearers and discussed possible strategies that could be followed to make inroads into the ruling Biju Janata Dal’s vote bank,

While speaking to journalists soon after their arrival here, party’s Odisha co-in charge Vijay Pal Singh Tomar said his party was ready for the polls and it would come to power in the state in 2024 and bag a good number of Lok Sabha seats. He also said focus would be given to get at least 50 per cent votes in the state as decided at the national executive meeting recently.

“A blue-print to bag over 50 per cent votes from each booth in the state will be prepared. Besides, discussion will be held on how to nail the ruling party that has failed to serve the people,” he added.

Asked if his party was capable enough to defeat the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) that has been ruling the state for over 23 years now, he said, “There is nothing impossible in it.”

Tomar cited the instance of Uttar Pradesh where the BJP returned to power in 2017after two decades, overcoming the challenges alternately by the Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party.

To another query on the Congress allegation that the BJD and BJP are one and same and both the parties have “tacit” understanding, Tomar said, “The BJD has stood with us at times of issues of national interest. But, when it comes to issues with farmers and common people in the state and corruption in the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the BJP is always against the BJD.”

While informing about the party’s programmes, he said the meeting of the party’s functionaries, district presidents and district in-charges will be held on Saturday and on Monday, a meeting of the party’s Sanyukta Morcha will be held.