Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday claimed that his government would not face any anti-incumbency factor in the next Assembly elections in the state.
Stating that he doesn’t see any impact of the results of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections in Orissa, Patnaik said his party is ready to face elections anytime. Patnaik had congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the BJP’s victory in the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections Monday.
“I do not feel that the BJD will face an anti-incumbency factor because our development programmes and welfare schemes are doing extremely well in the state,” the Chief Minister told the media here while replying to questions on the outcome of the Gujarat election.
With the next Assembly election is due in Orissa in 2019 Patnaik reiterated that BJD is always ready for polls even if they are held before due time.
He went on to say that the effect of the Gujarat poll results would not even be felt in the ensuing Bijepur Assembly by-poll, the date for which was yet to be announced.
BJP’s unexpected gains in this year’s panchayat elections in the state had stirred a political debate, as experts and the electorate wondered if an anti-incumbency factor was brewing against the ruling dispensation, which has already completed 18 years in power in Orissa.
However, the BJD leaders have strongly ruled out it. Rather, the ruling party has already started encasing on the failure of BJP in accomplishing its ‘Mission 150’ target in Gujarat. “Their claim of wresting 120 seats in Orissa is a daydream. Their claim of securing 150 seats in Gujarat has already been deflated. Forget ‘Mission 120’, here it would be surprising if the saffron brigade succeed is securing even eight seats,” said BJD vice-president and Food Minister Surya Narayan Patro.
PNN
