Bhubaneswar: BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Friday reiterated that the ruling BJD is ready to face early polls.
“BJD is always prepared for early elections,” Patnaik told reporters here.
The Election Commissioner of India, OP Rawat, has already stated in October 4 that the commission would be fully prepared by the end of 2018 to hold Parliament and Assembly elections simultaneously.
The Assembly elections in Orissa are due in May 2019. However, it has to be preponed to six months in case of snap polls.
According to BJD leaders, simultaneous election is not an issue with the state or the ruling dispensation as it is being conducted in Orissa since 2004.
BJD leaders in past have also agreed that general election ahead of its schedule has always benefited the regional party.
They also say that in simultaneous elections the poll expenditure is also less and campaigning strategy can effectively be streamlined.
PNN
