Naveen Patnaik refuses tie-up with BJP, Congress even after elections

GOPALPUR: Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik has said he will maintain equidistance from both the national parties even after the elections, a stance that could upset the plans of a section of strategists in the BJP that has been banking on a post-poll tie-up with the party’s former alliance partner. “We are sticking to what we have said for pre-poll alliances. We will maintain equal distance from both the Congress and the BJP post-poll too,” the three-time chief minister told ET.

Patnaik’s BJD is widely expected to sweep back to power for a fourth term, given its considerable popularity across the state through welfare schemes such as the Re 1 per kilo rice, and its widely appreciated evacuation before the super cyclone that hit Odisha last September.

Senior BJP leaders had told ET on the condition of anonymity after the March 14 rally of its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in Sambalpur, “We are keeping our doors open for any form of alliance, but let Naveen Patnaik also make a gesture.

Modi was not particularly critical of Patnaik or his government in what was seen as a deliberate softening of stance. The fact that, in its pursuit of regional alliances, BJP was quick to snub former BJD strategist-turned-rival Pyarimohan Mohapatra, also suggested that the party did not want to burn bridges with Patnaik. Expelled for allegedly plotting a “coup” , Mohapatra formed Odisha Jan Morcha last April.

Earlier this week he alleged that the BJP had already entered into a secret pact with Patnaik's BJD. The one-time Patnaik confidant is said to have encouraged Patnaik to dramatically break ties with the BJP in the runup to 2009 elections.

The BJD holds 103 of 147 assembly seats, and 14 of the 21 parliamentary seats in the state. This time it is also contesting the four assembly seats held by the NCP, and one Lok Sabha seat and one assembly seat held by CPM as per the seat arrangements of 2009. Pre-poll surveys have predicted 17 Lok Sabha seats for BJD. “That’s what some surveys have suggested, but I think we will do much better than that,” a confident Patnaik said.

The BJD’s campaign projects an aggrieved state, articulated in its slogan, “Blow the conch (party symbol) and save Odisha’s self -respect.” The party is still smarting from the fact that its demand for a special status for Odisha went ignored while the Congress carved out Seemandhra. It has also accused the Centre of deliberately denying Odisha greater revenues from its abundant mineral riches.

Addressing a rally in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, Mayawati, who fancies her chances as a PM candidate of a third front government, promised to grant Odisha special status if her party came to power. But Patnaik, who has backed the idea of a third front in the past, said, “It is early days to discuss a third front.”