The BJD seems to be in a fix now as it has to take a call whether to support or not the no-confidence motion moved by the Telugu Desham Party (TDP) in Parliament against the Narendra Modi-led NDA Government at the Centre two days back.
Though BJD MP Pinaki Misra has stated that the regional parties would play a key role in the no-trust motion, his party is yet to take a decision in this regard.
“We have not taken any decision in regard to no-confidence motion. Once President Ram Nath Kovind completes his Odisha tour, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will take a decision in this regard,” said BJD spokesperson Pratap Keshari Deb.
Deb said the Chief Minister would inform the BJD’s stand on the matter to Parliamentary Party leader in lok Sabha Bhartruhari Mahtab.
According to political analysts, the role of BJD vis-à-vis a no-trust motion is important as it has 20 members in lok Sabha and eight in Rajya Sabha. The BJD is the fifth largest party in lok Sabha after BJP, Congress, AIADMK and AITMC.
To support or not is vital for the BJD as it claims to have maintained equal distance from both the Congress and the BJP since 2009 when the regional forum and the saffron party parted ways.
Though the Congress has often alleged that BJD tilts towards BJP, now the TDP’s no-confidence move against the Modi Government seems baffling the BJD as its decision would prove its equi-distance stand.
What is more intriguing is that even if the BJD abstains from voting, it would help the BJP only.
It may be noted here that the BJD refrained from attending a dinner party convened by Sonia Gandhi recently which was attended by almost all non-BJP and regional parties.
With these backdrops, BJD Supremo and Chief Minister Naveen has to take a very shrewd decision to keep his party’s claimed stand of equi-distance intact.