BHUBANESWAR: The BJD today indicated its support for simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, saying it is "always ready" for early polls.
Election to Odisha assembly is due in May-June, 2019 along with Lok Sabha polls. "BJD is always ready for elections. If there is early elections, as I have said we are always ready for it," chief minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik said when his attention was drawn to the statement of Election Commissioner OP Rawat on the possibility of simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and state assemblies by the end of next year.
Several BJD leaders welcomed the possibility of general elections ahead of its scheduled saying that it would help the regional outfit. Rajya Sabha MP and BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb said, "the BJD is prepared to face elections anytime it comes." He, however, said the Centre will have to decide when it wants to hold the Lok Sabha polls.
His senior party colleague in Rajya Sabha Prasanna Kumar Acharya also supported the possibility of simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Campaigning strategy can be streamlined, he said and added that the party is keeping a watch on the developments.
The ruling BJD and the BJP have already gone into an aggressive campaign against each other keeping an eye on the next polls. National BJP president Amit Shah has visited Odisha twice during the last two months to energise the party rank and file as a part of Mission 120+ agenda. Besides, Shah has also launched "Mera booth sabse majboot" programme to ensure the party's presence at the grassroots level.
The ruling BJD has also launched ward level organisational activities to counter the BJP's aggressive campaign. Besides, the regional outfit has also undertaken several programmes at various levels to improve the organisation after the setback in the February panchayat election in which BJP secured the second position behind the BJD by pushing Congress to the third position.