Naveen's 'equidistance' claim is political stunt: Cong

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik's claims of maintaining equidistance from both Congress and BJP is just another 'political stunt', senior Congress leader Niranjan Patnaik today alleged.
"Naveen babu remained with BJP and became a central minister and even ran a coalition government in the state till 2009. But the moment he realised that he did not need BJP and require to wash his hands off the worst communal carnage Kandhamal in 2008, he dropped them and joined hands with the Left," Niranjan alleged.
"No one should forget how he entered into seat adjustment with NCP thinking that neither Congress nor BJP will win the 2009 elections," the former PCC chief said, alleging that the BJD President kept changing parties and friends, not based on any ideology.

This time Naveen has hurt the Left parties by not going into any alliance for the Lok Sabha elections, Niranjan alleged, referring to BJD chief first announcing seat adjustment with Shibu Soren's party and then roping in JMM party president Sudam Marandi and some other leaders in his party fold ahead of the elections.
"Naveen will change his stand if he gets the assurance of special category status, timely revision of mining royalty and a few other state-specific favours to cross the line back to the NDA fold," Niranjan claimed.