Pumped up BJD redoubles effort to retain power

The exit poll results, especially for the Assembly polls, have obviously made a difference to the campaigns in Orissa.

The exit poll results, especially for the Assembly polls, have obviously made a difference to the campaigns in Orissa.

HT Image

Sensing victory, the BJD has redoubled its efforts by diverting its leaders in Western Orissa (where polling ended on April 20) to those constituencies in the coastal belt where party candidates are perceived to be on a weaker wicket.

The exit poll results have projected 90 to 100 seats for the ruling BJD-BJP alliance and the BJD is now clearly working to try to get a majority on its own in the 147-member House.

Naveen is now concentrating on constituencies of Congress heavyweight candidates. On Wednesday, he visited Kodala constituency which remains a stronghold of his ally-turned-rival Ramakrushna Patnaik. He also has plans to wrap up his campaigning on April 24 by addressing the last rally in Begunia from where PCC president J.B. Patnaik is contesting.

On the other hand, important Congress leaders are busy defending their own forts. Though Congress leaders have put up a brave face and pooh-poohed the exit poll results, some of them have started even talking about the post-poll changes that are likely to take place within the PCC.

Meanwhile, six persons have been arrested in connection with poll-related violence in four booths under Chhatrapur assembly constituency in Ganjam district. The police is still looking for the CPI candidate from the seat, N. Narayan Reddy, who has been accused of causing disturbances.