Left, JMM, Cong to fight against BJP, BJD in Odisha: CPI

(Surjit Dhal Bhubaneswar, Feb 17): The Communist Party of India (CPI) on Sunday announced that a joint front will be formed in Odisha to fight against the BJP and the ruling BJD during the ensuing general election.

CPI national secretary D Raja said at a meeting of party workers here that efforts are on to create a front both the left parties, — CPI, CPM, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Congress to fight against the BJP and ruling BJD.

Raja said, “We have had a meeting in this regard with the president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Niranjan Patnaik and a meeting for seat sharing with the Congress will be held very soon.”

Notably, PCC sources had on February 14 said that OPCC has negotiated with the state leadership of CPI, CPI(M) and JMM for seat sharing for the coming simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

The state party leadership has already completed several rounds of talks with like-minded parties for an alliance, they said.

PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik had also confirmed the talks saying that the party was in touch with like-minded parties for seat sharing.

Sources in Congress had said that the party could keep three Lok Sabha seats and 20 assembly seats for the alliance partners.

CPI National Council member Ramakrushna Panda said Though we have not yet finalised the seat sharing arrangement with Congress, the party has proposed to field its candidates in 12 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats.

CPI sources said that the party may field its candidates in Aska and Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seats.

CPI(M) has also talked to the Congress and sought at least one Lok Sabha seat, including Bhubaneswar and about seven assembly seats, sources in it said.

JMM supremo Sibu Soren during his recent visit to Baripada in Mayurbhanj district had said that the party will take a decision soon on possible alliance with Congress in Odisha.

JMM sources said that the party has been asking for Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat and at least five assembly seats in Odisha.

The AICC screening committee, which is visiting the state to select candidates for the upcoming simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Odisha, was indicated that the party would need to keep some Lok Sabha and assmbly seats for the alliance partners.