Odisha Chief Minister and the Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday announced his party's support to Gopalkrishna Gandhi, Opposition candidate for the vice presidential election.
The regional party had supported NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind in the presidential election, polling for which was held on Monday.
BJD Parliamentary Party spokesman Kalikesh Singhdeo said, “Patnaik has proved that the BJD has been maintaining equal distance from the Congress and the BJP.”
In 2012, Mr. Patnaik said Mr. Gandhi was an “old and valued friend. We were friends even when I was not in politics”.
