BJD vice president favours tie-up with Congress in Odisha

Press Trust of India  |  Bhubaneswar 

The ruling BJD in has no hesitation in tying up with the in the Assembly elections to check "communal" forces in the state, the party's vice president Damodar Rout said today.

He, however, said the final call on the issue would be taken by BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.


Rout made these remarks when asked by mediapersons about his party's position in the context of the political situation in ahead of its upcoming Assembly elections.

"The is a secular party like us. On the other hand, we have an ideological difference with the All anti-and anti-communal political outfits should now come together," he said.

On whether the BJD's policy of maintaining "equal distance" from the and the will not be affected by it, Rout, who is also the state agriculture minister, said, "We will welcome the if they joins us."

The BJD leader said the should submit a list of Assembly segments where they are confident of winning.

Earlier, BJD's Parliamentary Party leader in the Lok Sabha Bhartuhari Mahtab had also made a similar statement favouring a tie-up with the However, Mahatab's suggestion was then rejected by Patnaik.

Mahtab had said the should no more be considered as an "untouchable" party for the BJD under the changed political situation.

Reacting to the BJD vice president's comments, chief Prasad Harichandan said, "This is Rout's personal opinion. He is a senior leader. Everybody knows the is a communal party. About alliance with any other party, an AICC committee headed by A K Antony takes the decision. No such decision is taken at the state level."

"As of now, we are fighting against both the BJD and the in Odisha," he said here.

Leader of Opposition in Assembly and senior leader Narasingha Mishra said, "The proposal of a tie-up with us should come from the BJD president."

Meanwhile, Union minister and senior leader Prakash Javadekar claimed that even if the and the BJD join hands, it would not affect his party's electoral chances in the state.

"No matter what they do, two zeros cannot make a hero," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Mon, October 23 2017. 20:29 IST