Sources aware of the seat-sharing talks told this paper that though a formula has been worked out the two parties have hardened their stand over some specific seats. Bhubaneswar and Keonjhar Lok Sabha seats are stated to have become the bone of contention between the two parties.The two sides have come to an agreement that BJP will contest from 13 Lok Sabha seats and BJD eight. The probable 13 seats for BJP include Bargarh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Bhubaneswar and Puri. The remaining eight Aska, Berhampur, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur and Kandhamal may go to BJD.“The BJD has scaled down its demand for Puri Lok Sabha seat which is currently represented by four-time MP Pinaki Mishra. The regional party has made it a prestige issue for Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat despite the fact that sitting BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi is a strong contender for the constituency,” the sources said.The regional party, sources added, is asking for Keonjhar LS seat and ready to spare Dhenkanal in lieu of it but the deal is not acceptable to the BJP.
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