Will Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik support his Tamil Nadu counterpart J Jayalalithaa in her bid to become Prime Minister after the general elections in 2014IJ Jayalalithaa has already made her move clear as her party AIADMK this week announced its stand that a Tamil leader should now head the Government at the Centre.
Both Jayalalithaa and Patnaik, former allies of the NDA, now continue to maintain equidistance from both the Congress and the BJP. Patnaik, who, for reasons best known to him, seems shy of taking the leadership of a Third Front in the country, may not oppose Jayalalithaa’s candidature for the top post, feel Patnaik’s confidants in the ruling BJD here. Patnaik was prompt to adversely react over the Prime Minister candidature of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, stating that Modi is acceptable for the post. Patnaik and Jayalalithaa are known to have good relations with each other. “Biju Patnaikji was like a father figure to me and Naveen Patnaik is my brother,” Jayalalithaa recently remarked, adding, “There was a natural synergy between myself and Biju Patnaikji.... Biju Patnaik left behind a legacy of respect, cooperation and mutual affection. This legacy is reflected in the bond that I continue to share with Naveen Patnaikji.”