Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader V K Pandian on Tuesday added a new twist to the talks of an alliance with BJP by stating that it is beyond politics and based on statesmanship.
Replying to the politics behind the possible alliance between the ruling party and the main opposition in Odisha, Pandian said Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has been winning 3/4th majority in the state and BJD won 90% of the seats in the Panchayat elections, which is fought over party symbol, in 2022. “Naveen Patnaik does not need an alliance to come back to power and serve the people. Similarly, surveys show a hattrick for Prime Minister Narendra Modil-led NDA,” he said, while speaking at a media conclave in Delhi.
The BJD leader described the alliance as a ‘rare mark of great statesmanship’. “Some things are beyond politics. I look at it as an attempt by two popular leaders to come together for a greater cause. This alliance has no electoral value for either BJP or BJP. It is between two individuals who share a great friendship,” he said.
He added that BJD does not need BJP to form government in the state and the same goes for BJP at the Centre.
On the present status of alliance, he said, “If anything happens, we will get to know”.
