New Delhi: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has decided to abstain from voting in the upcoming Vice-Presidential election, according to sources. This decision follows a meeting of the party’s seven Rajya Sabha members chaired by BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik here.
The party’s political affairs committee had previously met and empowered Patnaik to make the final decision on the party’s stance.
This move is being interpreted by political observers as an effort by the BJD to maintain its long-held policy of “equidistance” from both the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition alliance.
The BJD’s position on Vice-Presidential elections has varied in the past. The party abstained from voting in 2012, supported the opposition candidate in 2017, and backed the NDA’s candidate in 2022.
The party’s current decision to not participate in the polling comes after it recently lost power in the Odisha Legislative Assembly elections to the BJP.
The BJD now serves as the principal opposition party in the state.
Union Minister Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram said BJD decision to abstain from voting is a welcome step. It is an indirect support for NDA Candidate, he pointed out.