Against a target of 120 plus set by BJP president, Amit Shah the party has managed to win to just 23 assembly seats in Odisha. But party leaders remain upbeat about BJP’s prospects in the state where they see tremendous potential for growth. In fact, a section of them think that by the time next general elections come calling BJP will have made itself strong enough to dislodge Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) from power.
Their confidence stems from the fact that the party, despite winning a mere 23 seats in the state assembly, was the runners up behind the BJD in a large number of constituencies. Besides the BJP in Odisha has achieved its first target of replacing the Congress as the main opposition party. BJP strategists confide that they are moving step by step and will work patiently on strengthening the party’s organisational base right up to the booth level to be able to take full advantage of the factors that work in their favour during the elections.