With no conclusion yet on the possibility of a pre-poll alliance between the BJP and BJD, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is convening a meeting today of the party's senior leaders, as per the sources.
The last meeting of BJD was convened on March 6, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a visit to Odisha. As there were no developments from the BJP side, the BJD decided to hold further discussions on the matter, a senior BJD leader privy to the development said on condition of anonymity.
In its March 6 meeting, the BJD had resolved for "anything (including alliance)" for the larger interest of the state, he said.
"The proposal for an alliance had come from the BJP, and the BJD leaders discussed it at Naveen Niwas, Patnaik's residence," he said.
A day after the meeting, Patnaik's close aide V K Pandian, and BJD's organising secretary Pranab Prakash Das rushed to Delhi and informed the top BJP leaders about the regional party's views on the possible alliance.
However, the BJD was yet to get any response from the top BJP leaders.
"Thursday's meeting may discuss the changing political situation in the state in the wake of the possible alliance," the leader said.
However, several BJP leaders, including MPs Pratap Sarangi and Jual Oram, have expressed reservations over the possible alliance.
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