BJP hopes to bag 6 LS seats in Odisha based on higher voters' turnout

Business Standard, April 13, 2014
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hopes to win at least six out of 10 Lok Sabha seats that went to polls on April 10 based on higher voter turnout figures and feedback from local party workers.

“The higher number of turnout indicates that people want change at the Centre and the state. They have rejected the incompetent governments. The high turnout will be in favour of BJP and we hope to get six out of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in western and southern Odisha, which went to polls in the first phase”, said Suresh Pujari, BJP state spokesperson at a press conference here today.

On Saturday, the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha had said the turnout in the first phase of polls for 10 Lok Sabha and 70 assembly seats in Odisha was close to 75 per cent, revising it from earlier update of 67 per cent. In 2009, the state had witnessed 65.3 per cent turnout in the first phase comprising the same areas and same number of seats.

Based on the feedback of local party leaders, BJP is certain to win Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Nabarangpur and Berhampur Lok Sabha seats, said Pujari.

Last time, the party was not able to send a single candidate to Lok Sabha from Odisha due to its last minute breakup of alliance with Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

The party said, there is every chance that the similar turnout will be seen in the second phase polls on April 17.

Despite the higher turnout, the BJP leader alleged that many voters were denied to cast their votes due to discrepancy in voter list. For example, in Jharsuguda assembly constituency, a BJP candidate was denied to cast vote as his name appeared in the ‘deleted’ list.

“There was also confusion in the polling booths as in some booths people were instructed to vote for Lok Sabha candidates first while in some other areas people voted for assembly candidates first. This might alter voting pattern,” he alleged.

Attacking Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik, Pujari said, Patnaik is playing minority card in the second phase polls to secure more votes as he fears the record turnout in the first phase could go against his party.

Referring to the recent statement of the Global Peace Initiative president and Christian preacher K A Paul, who appealed to the people of Odisha to vote for BJD, Pujari questioned the secular credential of the BJD leader.

He also criticised the Chief Minister for not taking action against the people who were responsible for the Kandhamal riots in 2008.

Voting for Kandhamal Lok Sabha constituency will be held on April 17.