A new political party was launched in the State on Tuesday when former Biju Janata Dal leader and Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra converted his Odisha Jan Morcha, a political forum, into a party to contest the coming elections.
Announcing the launching of the party at a press conference here, Mr. Mohapatra said the party was formed after the founder members of the Jan Morcha and workers from as many as 110 Assembly constituencies took a decision in this regard.
The Jan Morcha, Mr. Mohapatra said, would strive to oust Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Mr. Mohapatra said he was hoping that his party would enter into seat-sharing with like-minded parties to contest the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State. “Talks are on with like-minded parties. I cannot disclose the details at this moment,” he said.
The Jan Morcha along with other like-minded parties would win about 80 to 85 seats in the coming Assembly elections, Mr. Mohapatra said.
No BJD leader would be welcomed to join the Jan Morcha if he wants to join it after being denied a BJD ticket. Any BJD leader wanting to join the Jan Morcha could join within a month, Mr. Mohapatra said.
Office-bearers
While Mr. Mohapatra will be the president of the Jan Morcha, Rajendra Singh will be the vice-president and Jagneshwar will be the secretary general. Mr. Mohapatra was first suspended and subsequently expelled from the BJD for allegedly plotting a failed coup to unseat Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on May 29 last year.
He had launched the Jan Morcha following his suspension from the party. He had addressed a series of rallies in different parts of the State before converting the forum into a party.
Senior BJD leader Kalpataru Das, however, claimed that the Jan Morcha would not have any impact in the future polls.
According to political analysts, the Jan Morcha may not be able to win many seats if it failed to forge an alliance with any major political party before the elections, but it could play a key role in ensuring the defeat of many BJD candidates.
