BJP, Cong junk AAP’s claim of Kejri vs Modi fight in ’24

Bhubaneswar: Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia’s claim that the 2024 election would be a fight between Arvind Kejriwal and Narendra Modi was termed as a daydream by the BJP and the Congress in Odisha a day before the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is scheduled to unveil its ‘Mission Odisha’ plan and a roadmap for an alternative to the BJP-BJD politics in the state.
Bhubaneswar MP and BJP national spokesperson Aparajita Sarangi said the AAP’s claim is laughable. “There should be some basis when a leader makes claims. A party with no Lok Sabha member is trying to position itself as the alternative to a party with more than 300 members. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity is rising across the country, Kejriwal ji is known in only two-three states. There is no comparison,” Sarangi said.
Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee president Sarat Pattanayak said the next Lok Sabha election will be between the Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, and the BJP. “AAP is being overenthusiastic following its poll performance in Punjab. However, across the country people are gradually realising that the Congress has to return to power for democracy to thrive,” Pattanayak said.
“AAP’s ambition for India is a daydream and does not match ground reality. The party has no organization or vote base in most parts of the country. It is the Congress which is on a revival as the people are fed up with the Modi government’s failures to create jobs and control price rise,” the state Congress chief added.
However, the BJD has decided not to comment. On Sunday, Delhi Cantonment MLA and AAP’s Odisha in-charge Virender Singh Kadian is scheduled to address a party event in Bhubaneswar. AAP Odisha convenor Nishikant Mohapatra said they will prepare a roadmap for an alternative to the BJP-BJD politics in the state.
“The politics of BJP-BJD compromise has created hurdle in Odisha’s growth. AAP has been preparing a strategy to counter them and improve the state of education and health. AAP is committed to bring a government in Odisha and offer free electricity, free quality drinking water and free world-class education and health,” Mohapatra said.