Two Sides of Same Coin Merely “Shadow Boxing”, Congress’ Jibe at Possible BJP-BJD Tie-Up

New Delhi: Commenting on the speculations about a possible tie-up between the BJP and the BJD, the Congress on Thursday said it has always been stating that the BJD and the BJP are two sides of the same coin and whatever opposition the two show to each other in Odisha is merely “shadow boxing”.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, “We’ve always been saying that the BJD and the BJP are two sides of the same coin. The BJD has always supported the BJP in Parliament and whatever opposition the two show to each other in the state is merely shadow boxing.” “The cat appears to be emerging out of the bag!” he added.

Although there has been no formal declaration regarding any pre-poll alliance between the ruling BJD and the Opposition BJP in Odisha.

But leaders of both parties hint that efforts are on for a tie-up before the Lok Sabha and assembly elections. On Wednesday, BJD leaders held a marathon meeting at Naveen Niwas, the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneswar. The Odisha BJP leaders had a similar meeting in Delhi.

Later, BJD vice-president and MLA Debi Prasad Mishra acknowledged that talks were held on a possible alliance with the BJP but did not explicitly confirm it.