No More Support To BJP, Only Opposition”: Naveen Patnaik After Poll Loss
Bhubaneswar:
Ex-Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik‘s Biju Janata Dal – which helped ex-ally Bharatiya Janata Party pass key bills in the Modi government’s first two terms, when it lacked numbers in the Rajya Sabha – seems to have firmly switched sides now and labelled itself a “strong and vibrant opposition”.
“We will make the centre accountable on all issues. BJD MPs will raise all issues pertaining to the state’s development and the welfare of the people of Odisha. Many rightful demands haven’t been met,” the party quoted Mr Patnaik after a meeting with his nine Rajya Sabha MPs in Bhubaneswar Monday.
“(We will) be the voice of 4.5 crore people of Odisha in Parliament…”
The BJD’s assertive stance comes not only after providing the BJP outside support on various issues in the past 10 years, but after breakdown in alliance talks in March, just weeks before the elections began.
Had those talks born fruit, the BJD and Mr Modi’s party would have re-allied nearly 15 years after a split that prompted late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj to say Mr Patnaik would “regret” snapping ties.
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