Odisha polls: BJP claims edge over BJD, Congress

Bhubaneswar: BJP on Thursday exuded confidence of getting an edge over the ruling BJD and opposition Congress after today`s brisk polling in parts of southern and western Odisha.

"We are optimistic about getting more number of seats, both in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the first phase," BJP state president K V Singhdeo said in a statement. Singhdeo, a candidate from Patnagarh Assembly segment in Balangir district claimed this after voting was completed in ten Lok Sabha and 70 Assembly seats in the first phase of polls in the state today. He also claimed that because people in general wanted to see Narendra Modi as the country`s next prime minister they today have voted in large numbers for the BJP rejecting both the ruling BJD and the Congress. "The BJP will also perform well in the second phase of the polls," Singhdeo claimed.