Bhubaneswar: A day after BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced his party’s support for NDA-backed JD (U) candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh, BJD Thursday explained why it has preferred BJP-backed candidate to Congress candidate for the post of Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman election.
Issuing a press statement on BJD explained “In the highest traditions of a parliamentary democracy, BJD believes that constitutional posts like that of the Speaker and Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha should be decided on a consensus instead of elections.”
“Two candidates, one from JD (U) and the other from the Congress are contesting, “BJD added.
“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 was AICC in-charge of Odisha till recently and vitriolic in his statements against the BJD and the State Government”, BJD argued.