BJD keeps Opp. front guessing on Prez poll
After the Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSR Congress came out openly in support of the BJP for the presidential polls, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), which has been equidistant from both the Congress and the BJP, has begun sending mixed signals. Despite being routed in the recent civic polls in Odisha by the BJP, the BJD is yet to come on board with the Opposition on extending support to a non-NDA presidential candidate.
Three top Opposition leaders — Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury — have already met BJD chief and Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik over the issue. However, though Mr Patnaik agreed with the need for all Opposition parties to come together to stem the tide of right-wing forces, he has not yet come on board officially, sources told this newspaper.
They said that despite the BJP rapidly gaining ground in the state, the BJD chief was “still obsessing about the Congress” and felt that “the Congress was still enemy No. 1”.
It is on this apprehension that Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who has taken the lead in getting the Opposition to flock together for the presidential polls, has not opened any direct channels with Mr Patnaik, and has rather asked other parties to carry forward the dialogue.
Another factor which was preventing Mr Patnaik from making up his mind was the BJP floating the name of Draupadi Murmu, who is a tribal woman from Odisha, as one of the NDA’s presidential candidates. If the ruling party at the Centre throws up the name of Ms Murmu, then it will become very difficult for Mr Patnaik to not back her considering his regional compulsions.
Support from the BJD, which has more than 32,500 votes, can give the Opposition a fighting chance against the ruling NDA in the election.