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BJD-BJP alliance runs into rough weather

The much-publicised political alliance between the Biju Janata Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Orissa is in trouble.

Sparks began flying two days after the two parties finalised seat-sharing agreement in Delhi on Tuesday.

Sources said several senior BJD and BJP leaders have threatened to quit party posts in protest against the adjustments.

Expressing grave reservations about the agreement, BJD vice-president A U Singhdeo and its general secretary Prasanna Acharya shot off letters to BJD chief Naveen Patnaik yesterday.

Talking to Rediff On The NeT, Singhdeo, who played a key role in forming the BJD recently, said, ''I have decided to quit as party vice-president and member of the political affairs committee to highlight the fact that the arrangement was not in the party's interest. By giving all the western Orissa seats to the BJP, the BJD leadership has ignored our interests.''

Considering the growing resentment -- which affects the saffron party, too -- the alliance leaders may review the arrangement to cheer up the disgruntled leaders.

Although the BJP state officials were not ready to talk about the reported threat of four senior party leaders to quit their posts, state BJP president Juel Oram admitted that there was a little resentment in the party. ''They feel we have surrendered the coastal belt seats to the BJD,'' he said.

The stand taken by these disgruntled leaders clearly indicates that the alliance is running into rough weather. For, several BJD and BJP leaders, who have been lobbying for seats, lost hope and may create trouble.

Sources said Singhdeo was eyeing the Bolangir Lok Sabha seat which has been given to the BJP.

Several senior BJD leaders had been keen to tie up with the BJP, considering its strong presence in western Orissa. They felt this would enable them to defeat the Congress.

On the other hand, two BJP leaders were seeking the prestigious Cuttack and Bhubaneswar seats which were given to the BJD.

It is said that three senior BJP officials -- Prasant Nanda, R P Pani and Shayamanand Mahapatra -- were keen on contesting from Puri, Dhenkanal and Cuttack. Even the party's state election committee had recommended their names to the BJP's central election committee.

''After surrendering the coastal Orissa seats to the BJD, the BJP has become a sub-regional party,'' said a BJP leader. ''No doubt we are strong in western Orissa. But what will we gain from the alliance if do not contest from the coastal belt at all?''

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