BJP will contest the 2019 Odisha Assembly elections alone

Bhubaneswar:7/9/17; BJP National President Amit Shah today ruled out the possibility of alliance with any regional party in the state and said his party will contest the 2019 Odisha assembly elections alone.

“BJP will contest the elections alone. There is no question of forming any alliance,” said Shah addressing a press conference at the party state headquarters here.

Hinting at Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s doubt over his ‘Mission 120’ the BJP President said, “This may look impossible for some people who have grown old. But the BJP, young in spirit, will definitely achieve its goal.”

We have proved in many states like Uttar Pradesh and Manipur, he added.

Answering the question from media personnel regarding Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s Chief Ministerial candidacy, Shah said the party hasn’t decided on any candidate yet, but the state will get a young leader.

Replying to a question on whether a change of guard in the Congress would affect the chances of his party in the next elections, Shah said; “Congress is shrinking everywhere in the country. So it will not affect us in any way.”

Without naming Naveen Patnaik Shah said development does not mean getting an award from magazine.

The BJP National President listed the failures of the Odisha government like Kalahandi’ Dana Majhi, Nagada malnutrition deaths, chit fund scams and drought and accused Naveen of inefficiency and corruption.