Bhubaneswar: Hours after Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s announced that his party would support NDA- nominee JD(U) candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh in the election to the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman, the party on Thursday stated reasons behind the decision in this regard.
In a statement released today, the ruling party of Odisha stated, “BJD has decided to support JD(U) since the JD(U) and BJD have similar ideological origins- emerging from the Jay Prakash Narayan movement”.
“The Congress candidate BK Hariprasad was AICC in charge of Odisha till recently and vitriolic in his statements against the BJD and the State Government,” pointed out BJD.
The party waited till end for consensus over the constitutional post but it did not happen as two different candidates emerged, the statement said.
The BJD has nine MPs in the Upper House of the Parliament. It has a significant role as no party has the required strength for today’s election.
The current strength of the Rajya Sabha is 244 and support of 123 members would be needed for a win in the full House.
The post of Deputy Chairman has been lying vacant since the retirement of Prof. PJ Kurien last month.
Kalinga AI