BJP plans meetings on future poll readiness

Bhubaneswar: The BJP state unit intends to brainstorm strategies for future political activities in Odisha keeping in mind the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections in 2024.
The party plans to host a series of meetings to be attended by BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santosh on June 21 and 22.
Santosh is scheduled to reach Bhubaneswar on June 20 on a three-day visit, his first since his elevation in 2019. There will be a review of the party’s ground situation, especially in the wake of its extremely poor performance in the recently held Brajarajnagar byelection, where Radharani Panda lost her deposit.
“A future roadmap will be prepared to maximise the party’s electoral fortune in the state where the BJD continues to dominate for more than two decades,” a BJP insider said.
Santosh will separately meet the BJP’s core team, state officebearers, presidents of frontal organizations such as students, youth, women, OBC and SC/ST wings of the party. The party will revive its activities to strengthen its committees at the booth, panchayat and mandal levels.
Naveen Patnaik’s excellent relationship with the leadsrhip in New Delhi has created an impression among the general public that the BJP is not aggressive in fighting its estranged ally BJD, with whom it shared power from 2000 to 2009.
This is perceived to have impeded BJP’s growth in the state and has proved to be an advantage for the BJD.