Former PCC president Niranjan Patnaik has reacted to the statement of BJD leaders showing willingness of their party to join the NDA again in lieu of a “State-specific package”.
Patnaik, who had demanded that the BJD clarify its position before the election, argued that the BJD now dumping its “equidistant” position from the BJP and the Congress is an act of betrayal of the voters. “In fact, at that stage I had demanded clarity, but the BJD kept mum and now they are showing their true colours,” he said. “Given the way the BJD functions, Pravat Tripathy (Government Chief Whip in the Assembly) will not make such a statement in the media without clearance from (party supremo) Naveen Patnaik,” the Congress leader said.
He pointed out that when it is convenient to it, the BJD joins the NDA and when it is not convenient it walks out of the NDA and plays the secular card. Now and then, Naveen Patnaik hobnobs with the left parties and plays the ‘secular’ card and then he joins the NDA in so-called Odisha’s interest. There is little to do with ideology in all these opportunistic political posturing.
“When the BJD declined to join the attempt to create a Third Front and decided not to align with the left parties unlike in 2009, Naveen was still expecting that the number game would throw up a possibility where he can also become Prime Minister. But hopes dashed, he now wants to position himself to join the NDA again though instead of making a statement himself he has asked one of the leaders to articulate the position of the party.
The BJD can always deny that they have any intention to be part of the NDA again and that Pravat Tripathy was only speaking for himself rather than for the party. Naveen wants to wait for the actual number and till such time wants to maintain ambiguity,” Niranjan Patnaik remarked. “Naveenbabu must take a clear stand before the results are announced rather than look for opportunities for political expediency,” he demanded.