Odisha: BJP, Cong trade barbs over proximity to ruling BJD

Predicting a Karnataka-like situation in Odisha in the 2019 Assembly polls, Union Minister Jual Oram today said the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the opposition Congress may enter into a "tactful understanding" to keep the BJP out of power.

The Congress, however, refuted Oram's claims and said it was the saffron party that was looking forward to a reunion with the BJD before the elections.

In Karnataka, the Congress forged an alliance with the JD(S) to form government as the BJP, which emerged as the single largest party in the state elections, fell short of majority.

The Union tribal affairs minister, during an interaction with the reporters at the party's state headquarters, said the statements issued by the BJD and the Congress after the Karnataka polls indicated that they have decided to join hands in Odisha.

 

Earlier too, the Congress had bailed out the BJD in times of crisis, Oram, who is also the BJP MP from Sundergargh, alleged.

"In 2009, when the BJP had pulled out of the coalition with the BJD in Odisha, the Congress did not demand President's Rule in the state as they wanted to bail out Naveen Patnaik-led government."

The Union minister also alleged that BJD MP Soumya Ranjan Patnaik would act as a bridge between Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik, who happened to be his elder brother, and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Refuting Oram's claims, the OPCC president said the BJD and BJP may have a secret nexus, which other parties may not be aware of.

"The fact that Naveen Patnaik is not attending Karnataka Chief Minister's oath-taking ceremony tomorrow shows the two parties are hand-in gloves with each other. All chief ministers of non-BJP states will be attending the event," he said.

BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra, on his part, said Jual Oram's statements indicated that the BJP leaders were in a state of shock after Karnataka results.

"Chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik had made it clear on earlier occasions that the BJD maintains equal distance both from the BJP and the Congress," he added.