In Odisha BJP stands to gain as both BJD and Congress to lose numbers

Surjit Kumar Dhal, Bhubaneswar, May 21: A day after Exit Polls predict comfortable victory for BJD in Odisha albeit reduced majority, BJP has claimed it is the only party in the State which stands to gain from the election to Lok Sabha and State Assembly results of which will be declared on May 23.

Exit Polls conducted by various agencies have made a prediction that while both BJD and Congress will lose numbers, BJP will make substantial gains in both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.

Even as Exit polls are not exact polls, BJP will increase its tally significantly in Odisha, said a political analyst.

If predictions made by the Exit Polls are of any indication, Congress stands to lose badly in both these elections. Its State president Niranjan Patnaik has gone to the extent of admitting that loss of seats may prove disastrous for the party which is likely to lose out the position of major opposition party in the state.

Even as he claimed Exit Poll predictions quite often prove inaccurate, he was sounding low while asked on the prospect of the party in the state.

Meanwhile, BJP’s Union Minister and candidate from Sundargarh Lok Sabha constituency Jual Oram has aired assertions that Exit Polls may prove wrong once the results are out and BJP will be in a very comfortable position to form government in Odisha.

Similarly, BJP’s national vice president and spokesperson Baijayant Panda has also expressed satisfaction over party’s performance as predicted by various Exit Polls. All the exit polls have predicted that BJP will win good number of seats in Lok Sabha from the State and this is an indication that BJP is the only party in the State which has gained substantially in both these elections.

Notably, Exit Polls have predicted that BJP which won only one seat in 2014 Lok Sabha election will this time increase its tally to double digit number. Similarly, in it is also likely to increase its number to around 30 in the 147 strength Odisha Assembly.

Voluble BJP leader Dama Rout has said that if Exit Polls have predicted around fifteen seats for his party for Lok Sabha, how can the assembly segments falling under these lag behind? The Biju acolyte Rout who defected to BJP few days before the polls has predicted surprising result for the saffron party in both Lok sabha and Assembly elections.

Political analysts said BJD led by Naveen Patnaik is all set to form government for the fifth time in a row and will support which ever government in Centre considers favourably mattres concerning Odisha’s interest.

BJD’s IT Cell Chief Amar Patnaik said that his party will be in comfortable position to form government in the State for the fifth time in a row and will support that government in Centre which accedes to Odisha’s legitimate demands.

Speaking on predictions made by the Exit Polls, BJD leader ans its Rajya Sabha MP Pratap deb said, “I don’t want to speculate on the number as shown in the exit polls. But I can certainly say we will secure two-third majority in the Assembly and repeat the same in the Lok Sabha”.

Political analysts have expressed surprise over the immaculate maturity Odisha’s electorates have shown by going for split voting-opting BJP for Centre and BJD for State.