"Won't turn it down if offered": BJP's Jual Oram amid buzz as contender for Odisha CM

Rourkela (Odisha) [India], May 19 : Amid speculations that he could be among the frontrunners for chief minister should they wrest Odisha from the BJD in the ongoing assembly elections, sitting BJP MP and the party's candidate from Sundergarh Lok Sabha constituency, Jual Oram said he doesn't aspire for the top post but will faithfully assign his duties if entrusted with the job of leading the state.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal fielded former India hockey captain Dilip Tirkey as its candidate against Oram from the Sundergarh constituency.
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, the BJP leader said, "If I am entrusted with the job, I will faithfully discharge my duties as the chief minister. Though I do not aspire to be the CM, I won't turn down the job if offered. There are plenty of other capable leaders in our party who could be considered for the CM's post. However, we will abide by whatever our party leadership decides."
Taking a jab at the ruling BJD in the state, the BJP MP said, "There is no democracy in Odisha. The state is being ruled by bureaucrats. The CM has been rendered ineffective due to his advancing age and failing health. He has failed to project a leader whom he could pass the baton to. VK Pandian (a former IAS vested with a cabinet rank in the government) roams the state and acts as per his whims, without bothering to pay heed to ministers. In a way, the state is under an autocratic rule, a dictatorship. Their expiry date has been fixed for June 4."
Confident that the BJP was on course to forming the government at both the Centre and the state, Oram said, "Sensing the pulse of the people here, I can say with absolute confidence and conviction that the mandate will be in favour of 'Dilli mein 400 paar, Odisha mein BJP Sarkar' (returning to power at the Centre with 400-plus seats and also forming the government in Odisha). The dream of a double-engine government here will be fulfilled."
Reflecting on his political career, the tribal leader said the ongoing Lok Sabha elections will be his last as he wants to pass the baton to the next generation of leaders.
"I have contested eight Lok Sabha elections while also fighting the assembly elections twice. So, I have fought as many as 10 elections. While I do wish to remain in active politics, I don't want to contest elections any more. It takes a lot of hard work to fight elections. Being a senior leader in the party, I am entrusted with a lot of responsibilities. I often wish to be relieved of some of my burden and pass the baton onto the next generation of leaders. I want to leave it (contesting elections) to younger leaders. This will be my last election," Oram said.
Meanwhile, speaking to ANI on Saturday, BJD's Dilip Tirkey said, "The campaign ends today and we have received a positive response from the people. The people are with the BJD and our CM Naveen Patnaik. Everyone wants Naveen Patnaik to return as CM for the sixth time. We will secure an absolute majority in the assembly and will also fare well in the Lok Sabha elections. I would urge the people of Sundargarh to vote early as the heat is likely to be unbearable as the day wears on."
Earlier, exuding confidence in the BJP winning the assembly elections, the party's Lok Sabha candidate Aparajita Sarangi, on Saturday, said a BJP chief minister will take the oath of office on June 10.
Aparajita along with the BJP's state president Manmohan Samal, national vice-president Baijayant Panda, Sambalpur Lok Sabha candidate and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Balasore Lok Sabha candidate Pratap Sarangi were part of an elaborate roadshow in Balasore on Saturday.
Speaking to ANI, Aparajita said, "The directive of the central leadership was for the five of us to speak to our workers and listen to their problems while paving the way for our victory. Our workers are upbeat and excited about our poll prospects. PM Modi, in Balangir, urged the people of Odisha to give us 5 years at the helm so that we can show them real development on the ground. PM said the Centre and the BJP government in the state will make Odisha the Number 1 state in the country. Without a doubt, a BJP CM will take oath on June 10."
The assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the BJD-ruled state are being held across four phases--May 13, May 20, May 25 and June 1. The counting of votes for all phases has been scheduled for June 4.