Want to know be the BJD’s position with regard to the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government at the CentreIJ
But, as anticipated, BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik did not say a word on this important political question while briefing the media after the conclusion of the BJD Parliamentary Party meeting held at his residence here on Saturday.
He reportedly told the MPs that the BJD cannot afford to rub the powerful Modi Government the wrong way and should, instead, take a “positive” stance that would generate goodwill, if not bonhomie with the NDA.
As Patnaik apparently chose not to spell this out himself to the media, he assigned the task of presenting the deliberate ambiguous political stance to the two newly appointed spokespersons of the party in Delhi, Baijayant Panda and Kalikesh Singh Deo.Panda said, “The party will take a positive approach towards the Centre and will work for the best interest of the State. However, if any decision of the Centre goes against our interests, the party will oppose.”
Singh Deo, on his part, said, “We will be ‘equidistant’ from both the BJP and the Congress in Delhi. The party will work independently for the State’s interest. However, we ‘may’ extend issue-based support to the Centre if it is in the interest of the State.”
The reason for the ambiguity in the BJD’s stand vis-à-vis the Modi Government in contrast to the clear position against it taken by the AIADMK and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is not far to seek, according to political observers.
Naveen Patnaik has conveniently forgotten his earlier view in favour of a Third Front with the AIDMK, the TMC and some other regional parties, the observers point out. And this is because of the ongoing CBI inquiry into the chit fund and also a possible CBI probe into the still bigger mining scam, they say.
The observers believe Patnaik shied away from articulating his party’s stand before the media to avoid the embarrassment of going soft on the BJP, which he has so far been dubbing as “communal and reprehensible” since snapping the BJD’s ties with the saffron party since the 20009 general elections.
It would indeed be interesting to watch in what manner the BJD puts to practice its “positive approach towards the Centre” now forgetting its old habit of blaming the Centre for just everything.