Naveen Patnaik's BJD to Support Opposition in Rajya Sabha, to be 'Strong Voice' For Odisha
Former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik. (Image via X/@Naveen_Odisha)
The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has said that it will support the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, confirming that there’s going to be no more support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is now the ruling party in Odisha as well. The BJD has said that it will be a “strong voice” for Odisha in Parliament and raise issues of the state.
Former chief minister of Odisha Naveen Patnaik, who is now the Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly, said that his party, which earlier supported the BJP on several issues in Rajya Sabha, will now represent a “strong and vibrant opposition” in the state and also support the Opposition in Parliament.
“We will make the centre accountable on all issues. BJD MPs will raise all issues pertaining to the state’s development and the welfare of the people of Odisha. Many rightful demands haven’t been met. (We will) be the voice of 4.5 crore people of Odisha in Parliament,” Patnaik said after a meeting with BJD’s nine Rajya Sabha MPs in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
BJD leader Sasmit Patra said that Naveen Patnaik had given “clear instructions to fight for the rights of the state’s people in Parliament”. “No more support to BJP, only opposition. We may go to any extent to protect the interests of Odisha,” he said after Patnaik’s meeting with his MPs.
The BJP won 20 out of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha in the Parliamentary polls 2024. The BJP also secured majority in Odisha Assembly with 78 seats while the BJD was brought down to 51 seats in a historic election.
The BJD, which is set to sit in the Opposition in the state Assembly is looking forward to take on the BJP government on several issues. Prasanna Acharya, the deputy leader of Opposition in Odisha, said, “In my knowledge, for the past many decades, there has not been such a strong opposition in the Odisha assembly. This will strengthen democracy. It will ensure that the government stays on track.”