Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik clears air on pre-poll alliance, says BJD equidistant from Congress and BJP

BHUBANESWAR: A day after BJD vice-president and senior minister Damodar Rout floated the proposal for a tie-up between the regional outfit and Congress to keep the BJP in check in Odisha, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday dismissed such a possibility.

"BJD is equidistant from Congress and BJP. With the blessings of our people we will continue in our fight for the rights of Odisha," Naveen said in a tweet.

The chief minister's clarification came after several senior BJD leaders expressed their opposition to the proposal of an alliance between the BJD and BJP even as Rout reiterated his stand by saying that Congress is not untouchable.
 
"Those of us who assisted in founding the party to undo the gross damage to Odisha by them in 80s/90s will find this difficult to swallow," party MP Baijayant Panda said in a tweet.
 
Government chief whip and senior BJD leader Amar Prasad Satpathy also said there is no such possibility. "BJD's root is anti-Congressism. How can it join hands with that party?" Satpathy said and added that the regional outfit is fully capable of defeating BJP in Odisha.

Several other BJD leaders including party MP Kalikesh Singh had on Monday rejected such a possibility.

Rout, however, reiterated his stand by saying that Congress is not untouchable. Stating that his statement in this regard is being misinterpreted, the senior minister said BJD is capable enough to defeat BJP without taking the help of any other political party. "But there is no harm in joining hands with a party (Congress) if it is fighting against the same forces (BJP)," Rout said.