As the Lok Sabha election nears its completion, Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik is once again in demand with both NDA and UPA leaders trying to get him into their camp.
While UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has invited Mr. Patnaik to attend a meeting of Opposition parties in New Delhi on May 23, BJP national president Amit Shah has praised the BJD president for the violence-free campaign in Odisha.
Call from Kamal Nath
Mr. Patnaik has already received a phone call from Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath inviting him to Ms. Gandhi’s meeting. Both Mr. Patnaik and Mr. Nath studied in Doon school.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Odisha days after Cyclone Fani hit the State, had praised the State government for its preparations to deal with the severe cyclone.
Although the BJD earlier maintained equidistance from both the Congress and the BJP, Mr. Patnaik had said during his election rallies that no national party will win a majority and the BJD will play a key role in the formation of the next government at the Centre.
In its manifesto, the BJD had said that it will extend support to any government at the Centre that will fulfil the just demands of Odisha.
Although Mr. Patnaik has not reacted to the Congress invitation or the appreciation by Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra told journalists on Thursday that their party will take the “right decision at the right time”.
“We have to wait till the election results are announced,” he said.
“Mr. Patnaik can go either way, though his first preference will be the NDA if it will be able to form the next government. This will help him because the BJP, which is likely to emerge as the main Opposition in the State, will be in his side. He, however, may extend support to the UPA if the NDA falls short of numbers,” said political analyst Rabi Das.
