BJP would fight the coming panchayat elections in Orissa in coalition with the BJD, BJP general secretary Vinay Katiyar said.
The coalition of the two parties have been contesting various elections including at the Lok Sabha, Assembly and panchayat level since 1998.
"Our main opponent in the state is the Congress and the coalition will jointly fight in the polls," he told newsmen in Berhampur on Friday.
The coalition would contest the polls on the issues of 'central apathy' towards the state, rise in prices of essential commodities and the spurt in terrorist activities, Katiyar said.
The three-tier panchayat elections are slated to be held early next year.
Katiyar, the party in-charge of Orissa, was in Berhampur to attend a meeting of BJP functionaries of Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts.
The BJP leader said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had promised to provide Rs 200 crore to the state towards flood restoration assistance while only Rs 25 crore had been sanctioned for the purpose.
The NDA government, led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had provided adequate relief and assistance to Orissa during natural calamities including seven lakh units of dwellings under the Indira Awas Yojana to the state in the aftermath of the 1999 super cyclone, he said.
{{/usCountry}}The NDA government, led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had provided adequate relief and assistance to Orissa during natural calamities including seven lakh units of dwellings under the Indira Awas Yojana to the state in the aftermath of the 1999 super cyclone, he said.
{{/usCountry}}Orissa state BJP president Jual Oram was also present at the news conference.