Fact Check: BJD, BJP did not strike any deal to contest Assembly, General elections in Odisha
A rumour is spread on social media regarding BJP - BJD alliance gearing up to fight 2024 general elections. The post regarding the alliance has gone viral.
Meanwhile, several Congress leaders responded to the rumours, and said: “Both parties have been working together from the beginning. Now, it has been made official.”
In a few places, the Congress also arranged a mock wedding taking dig at coalition of the BJP & BJD.
Not only social Media users few Media houses are also taking it as there Breaking News.
As per the viral message “BJP-BJD Alliance deal finalized on 2:1 formula. Lok Sabha: BJP to fight on 14 while BJD on 7 seats. Whether in Assembly Seats: BJD to fight on 100 seats & BJP will field candidates on 47.
This will give a huge boost to NDA's tally, inching closer to the 400 mark! ”
This claim is false. There is no formal announcement from the BJP or BJD regarding the alliance.
When we searched using the keywords ‘BJP-BJD Alliance’, we did not find any such official press release or any notification on their social media accounts.
On searching social media account of Manmohal Samal, the BJD Odisha state president, we found a statement posted on March 22, 2024. On his post, he clearly mentioned that the BJP Odisha will fight election independently in 21 Lok Sabha, 147 Bidhan Sabha seats.
On further investigation, we found senior BJD leader Pranab Prakash Dash, organizational secretary of Odisha BJD, posted on his official X account that “BJD will contest in all the 147 Assembly constituencies and all 21 Lok Sabha constituencies and will win more than three-fourth seats with the support of the people of Odisha and the leadership of Mr Naveen Patnaik”.
On March 24, BJP Odisha announced their 18 Lok Sabha candidates from Odisha.
Odisha Television also published an article “No BJP-BJD alliance! BJP's celebrations gave big message to people in Odisha”.
Indian Express published “It's official. No alliance between BJP and BJD in #Odisha”.
Hence the claim is false. Till the time this Fact Check is getting published, there is no official alliance declared by either the BJP or BJD. So both the parties will contest for all the seats of Lok Sabha & Bidhan Sabha separately.