Odisha BJP asserts parliamentary committee will decide CM candidate

Bhubaneswar, May 13: In response to BJD's inquiry about the BJP's chief ministerial candidate, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal stated on Monday that the decision would be made by the party's parliamentary committee. He remarked, "The BJD leaders lack insight into our party's processes. They are unfamiliar with our method of selecting a CM."

This statement followed tweets by BJD leaders Pranab Prakash Das and Sasmit Patra, claiming that the BJP had acquiesced to their demand and announcing a press conference to reveal its CM candidate.

Contrary to expectations, the state BJP chief emphasized that the BJD lacks leadership depth, asserting that the government is essentially managed by a 'gumasta' (representative/agency). He criticized the sidelining of ministers and MLAs for mundane tasks like tent setup and traffic management, highlighting what he sees as a disregard for BJD's own leadership. According to Samal, a party failing to nurture its next generation of leaders lacks the moral high ground to question the BJP's choice for CM.

Furthermore, Samal expressed concerns about the functioning of the Odisha government, citing a lack of transparency regarding expenditure on various projects. He accused the BJD of stifling democracy and deflecting blame onto others.

Samal also accused BJD leaders of resorting to desperate tactics, particularly in their criticism of the Prime Minister. He claimed that the people of Odisha have embraced PM Modi's vision for a BJP-led government in the state, evidenced by overwhelming support for the party. He alleged that the BJD's statements are aimed at sowing confusion among voters, as they refuse to acknowledge their anticipated electoral setback.

Confident in BJP's prospects, Samal predicted victories in all four Lok Sabha seats being contested and most Assembly seats. He attributed this projected success to the support of Odisha's population and pledged to fulfill the party's manifesto promises.