The BJP MLAs and Congress leaders from Odisha called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi, respectively, in Delhi and chalked out their strategies for the 2024 general elections.

While the Congress and the BJP are rivals in Odisha, their prime enemy is the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) which will try to win the state elections for the sixth time in a row in 2024.

The BJP leaders from Odisha sought tips from the central leadership on how to do a Chhattisgarh in the state, the Congress leadership advised state leaders to take lessons from Telangana.

While the BJP MLAs met the Prime Minister on Thursday evening, the Congress leaders met Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday.

The BJP leaders were worried about the public perception of the growing intimacy between the BJD and the BJP which is likely to have an impact on their election prospects. However, the Prime Minister reportedly asked the party leaders to concentrate on strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level.

BJP legislature party leader Jayanarayan Mishra told The Telegraph: “We have presented the ground realities before the Prime Minister. He patiently listened to us. He asked us to strengthen the party’s base at the ground level. The Prime Minister is confident that the party will do well in the coming general elections.”

Sources said the Prime Minister pointed out how because of the dedicated work of the party cadres, the party was able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in some places, particularly in Chhattisgarh.

Mishra said: “We invited the Prime Minister to come to Odisha. He is likely to visit Odisha in January. Besides the Prime Minister, other stalwarts such as J.P. Nadda and Amit Shah will also visit the state.”

BJP MLA Mohan Majhi said: “We discussed several issues pertaining to Odisha’s interest. We can not reveal everything to the media. We are sure we will defeat the BJD this time.”

On the other hand, the Congress leaders during their meeting with Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge discussed the present condition of the party vis-à-vis BJD and BJP. Sources said during the meeting with the leaders, Kharge said how the anti-incumbency factor was growing in the state as the BJD has ruled the state for nearly 24 years.

Rahul Gandhi reportedly expressed his concern over the gradual decline of the voting percentage in the state. “Rahul Gandhi ji asked us to work to expose the close intimacy of the BJD and the BJP, and raise the issue of unemployment.”

He asked us to study how the Congress got victory in Telangana “We discussed how the party would perform well in the forthcoming elections,” said Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Sarat Pattnayak.