New Delhi: For the first time speaking about the possible alliance between Governing BJD and the BJP, top regional political outfit leader and 5T Chairman VK Pandian today said that ‘it is beyond politics and based on statesmanship’.
While speaking at CNN-News18’s Rising Bharat Summit 2024 in New Delhi, Shri Pandian said, “Naveen Patnaik is undoubtedly going to be CM of the State and Narendra Modi is going to be the PM of the country. But there is something which is beyond politics. It is a mark of great statesmanship. That is how I put it,” He, however, did not provide clarity on the status of the talks.
Shri Pandian said the Chief Minister 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 Modi-led NDA,” he said.
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”.
It is worth mentioning that there has been a buzz that BJP and BJD may join hands for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly polls. However, no official announcement in this regard is made yet.