Jan Morcha launch may change political equations

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

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The new party likely to forge alliance with BJP or Congress

The launch of Odisha Jan Morcha as a new regional party has given rise to possibilities of emergence of new political equations in the State in the coming days.

The Jan Morcha has come into the picture ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections thereby fuelling speculation whether the party would go with the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Congress, the two major enemies of the ruling Biju Janata Dal.

Since the BJD was the main target of the Jan Morcha headed by expelled BJD leader and Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra, there was possibility of the new party forging an alliance either with the BJP or with the Congress to contest the coming Assembly elections.

While announcing the launching of the Jan Morcha, Mr. Mohapatra said that he was in touch with different like-minded parties to forge an alliance before the coming polls to oust the BJD from power.

The Jan Morcha was likely to gain strength in the coming days as the BJD has started losing its base. This has become clear in the elections held in the three newly formed notified area councils (NACs) of Hindol, Nuapada, and Attabira.

According to sources, the Jan Morcha, apart from highlighting various scams that had been unearthed during the BJD rule, is likely to cause a severe damage to the BJD within a few months by taking away some leaders of the party thereby weakening the party structure at the grassroots level. Further, the BJD government headed by Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik is also being in news for its involvement in various scams as well as deteriorating law and order situation.

If a BJD source is to be believed, many top leaders of the party have slowly started realising the fact that their party cannot win the coming polls just by banking on Mr. Patnaik's popularity.

After the ouster of Mr. Mohapatra, who was the main strategist of the BJD in the past elections, Mr. Patnaik had not been able to find out any other leader to formulate political strategies for the party.

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Jan Morcha’s main target is BJD

Pyrimohan Mohapatra says he is in touch with like-minded parties

Pyarimohan Mohapatra launches new party

PRAFULLA DAS

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Ready for tie up with like-minded parties in the coming Assembly elections

A new political party was launched in the State on Tuesday when former Biju Janata Dal leader and Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra converted his Odisha Jan Morcha, a political forum, into a party to contest the coming elections.

Announcing the launching of the party at a press conference here, Mr. Mohapatra said the party was formed after the founder members of the Jan Morcha and workers from as many as 110 Assembly constituencies took a decision in this regard.

The Jan Morcha, Mr. Mohapatra said, would strive to oust Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Mr. Mohapatra said he was hoping that his party would enter into seat-sharing with like-minded parties to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State. “Talks are on with like-minded parties. I cannot disclose the details at this moment,” he said.

The Jan Morcha along with other like-minded parties would win about 80 to 85 seats in the coming Assembly elections, Mr. Mohapatra said.

No BJD leader would be welcomed to join the Jan Morcha if he wants to join it after being denied a BJD ticket. Any BJD leader wanting to join the Jan Morcha could join within a month, Mr. Mohapatra said.

Office-bearers

While Mr. Mohapatra will be the president of the Jan Morcha, Rajendra Singh will be the vice-president and Jagneshwar will be the secretary general. Mr. Mohapatra was first suspended and subsequently expelled from the BJD for allegedly plotting a failed coup to unseat Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on May 29 last year.

He had launched the Jan Morcha following his suspension from the party. He had addressed a series of rallies in different parts of the State before converting the forum into a party.

Senior BJD leader Kalpataru Das, however, claimed that the Jan Morcha would not have any impact in the future polls.

According to political analysts, the Jan Morcha may not be able to win many seats if it failed to forge an alliance with any major political party before the elections, but it could play a key role in ensuring the defeat of many BJD candidates.

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The new party will strive to oust Chief Minister Naveen Patniak, says Mohapatra

Mohapatra to be the chief of the new party