Senior Congress leader and Union Minister Srikant Jena on Sunday said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik maintains a good rapport with Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and is likely to form an alliance of the BJD with the saffron party.
“There is good relationship and understanding between Naveen Patnaik and Narendra Modi. The BJD will again form an alliance with the BJP in the State. Since the common people are not aware about the secret understanding between the duo, I make the public aware about the fact,” Jena told mediapersons at Jatni after campaigning for the Congress candidates for the urban local body polls.
However, refuting Jena’s statement, State Energy Minister Arun Sahu said, “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has earlier clearly clarified that the BJD is marinating equidistance from the BJP and the Congress. The Chief Minister has also disapproved of the leaderships of Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi for the country.”