Ahead of the counting of votes on May 23, Odisha’s ruling Biju Janata Dal on Friday said that it will no more adhere to its policy of maintaining “equal distance” from both the BJP and the Congress.
“We will not adopt the equal distance (from BJP and Congress) policy any more. The BJD will support any front which supports Odisha,” BJD vice-president and Minister S.N. Patro said.
The BJD, which had a decade-long alliance with the BJP, had severed ties with the latter ahead of the 2009 elections over a dispute on seat sharing. A BJD-BJP coalition government existed in Odisha from 2000 to 2009.
‘Communal, corrupt’
After severing ties with the BJP, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had dubbed it as “communal” and the Congress as “corrupt”.
However, the Chief Minister and the BJD chief has made his party’s stand clear that it will support any front — whether led by the BJP or the Congress, whichever protects Odisha’s interest.
The party has been demanding special category status for Odisha and it was a major poll issue this time also.
Mr. Patnaik also kept the BJD’s door open for the proposed third front which may stake claim for the government formation after results are declared on May 23.
The BJD president, meanwhile, has received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and also an invitation from UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, party sources said.
‘Naveen for PM’
Replying to a question on possibility of installing Mr. Patnaik as the Prime Minister after polls, Mr. Patro said: “The people of India and Odisha want Naveen to be the Prime Minister of India. The people had earlier favoured legendary leader and Chief Minister Biju Patnaik as the Prime Minister of the country.”