BJD ready to sit in Opposition, not to support UPA

BHUBANESWAR: As the UPA was poised to form government at the Centre, BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik on Saturday ruled out extending support to the Congress-led alliance.

"We will not support a Congress-led or BJP-led government at the Centre," the Orissa Chief Minister told reporters reiterating the stand taken by the party.

Alleging that Orissa had been neglected by successive governments at the Centre, Patnaik said his party would like to have a Central government fulfil the 'just' demands of the people of Orissa.

Overwhelmed by the BJD's victory in the parliamentary and assembly elections in Orissa, party's chief poll strategist Pyari Mohan Mohapatra also reiterated that the party would not hesitate to sit in opposition in the Lok Sabha.

"The BJD with more MPs in Lok Sabha will strongly put the state's demands before the Centre," he said, adding that they would agitate before Parliament on important issues.

Mohapatra said there was no point in supporting Congress as it "continued to neglect Orissa".

"Barely two days ago, the UPA government has asked the state government to refund Rs 80 crore of Rs 98 crore earlier provided as flood assistance," he said.