Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik on Friday hailed the NDA’s Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind for his hard work, determination and commitment to the cause of the oppressed and the downtrodden and said his journey from a village to being a candidate for the President is a true reflection of the transition that modern India has undergone.
Patnaik was introducing Kovind to his party MlAs and MPs at the Assembly conference hall.
“He is symbolic of the new aspiring Indian,” remarked he.
Kovind’s meeting with BJD MlAs and MPs lasted about an hour. Before the meeting, Patnaik, Kovind and Union Health Minister JP Nadda, who accompanied Kovind to Bhubaneswar, raised their hands in unison.
After the meeting, Patnaik took Kovind and Nadda to his residence in his official car where the trio had lunch. “I am very happy to be here and thankful to the BJD led by Naveen Patnaik for supporting me,” Kovind told reporters after the lunch. The trio spent around an hour at the Naveen Niwas.
When asked about any possibility of cross-voting, Patnaik said, “The BJD is supporting Kovind and I don't think there's chance of cross-voting at all.”
Kovind was earlier welcomed by leaders of both BJD and BJP leaders at the airport here on his arrival by a special flight.
Kovind's meeting with BJD legislators and MPs was considered as a mere formality as Patnaik had already announced his party's support to the NDA nominee describing him as a “distinguished dalit leader”.
The BJD has 117 MlAs in the 147-member State Assembly and 28 MPs (20 in lok Sabha and eight in Rajya Sabha).
After having lunch with the CM, Kovind met BJP MlAs and leaders at BJP legislature Party leader KV Singh Deo's residence before returning to New Delhi.