BHUBANESWAR: Nomination of senior BJP leader and and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs M Venkaiah Naidu as the NDA Vice-Presidential candidate has put BJD in a dilemma over its choice for the post.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced support to NDA Presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind immediately after his name was announced. However, in case of the VP candidate, a decision will not be so easy. The issue of BJD’s support for the post of VP was discussed at the BJD Parliamentary Party meeting on Saturday. Decision was taken to wait till the announcement of the name of NDA nominee. Sources in the party maintained that questions may be raised from within the party if the Chief Minister announces support for Naidu as BJP is positioning itself as the main rival of BJD in Odisha. Such a decision may also send a wrong signal to the party rank and file.
On the other hand, the UPA’s Vice-Presidential candidate Gopal Krishna Gandhi has also support in the BJD. Besides, he is a good friend of Naveen. Meanwhile, senior BJD leader and party MP Baijayant Panda said in a tweet that BJD will soon decide whom to support as VP. “Meantime I’m glad Venkaiah Naidu ji is a candidate. I’ve long known and respected him,” he said.