Naveen Patnaik Doesn't Rule Out Support For BJP

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik has said he is not in talks with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance on government formation at the Centre. But he has not ruled out supporting the BJP either.

"I want to state here quite clearly that no decisions have been taken on any alliance," the Odisha chief minister said in Bhubaneshwar, adding, "we will see in the future." Mr Patnaik, who had just returned from Delhi, had been asked if his party was considering offering support to the NDA.

"We don't have long to wait. Just day after tomorrow," he had said in Delhi. (Watch video here)

Votes in the general election will be counted on Friday. Exit polls show that the BJP-led NDA could get a narrow majority or fall just short. In either scenario, it will need new allies to ensure a stable government. (Modi-led BJP Set For Victory, Exit Polls Show)

Speculation that Mr Patnaik could support the BJP's alliance was triggered by his party's chief whip Pravat Tripathy saying in a TV interview, "Keeping in view the opinion of the whole country and the state's interest, there should be no problem in providing conditional support to the NDA to form government at the Centre."

Senior BJD leaders, including Mr Patnaik, continue to emphasise that the party's policy is "equidistance from the Congress and BJP." Party MP Jay Panda said today, "Demands for conditional support to the next government are there, but this will need discussion." (Will remain equidistant from both BJP and Congress: Naveen Patnaik to NDTV)

"We welcome anyone who wants to ally with us," said the BJP's Nitin Gadkari as the party's top leaders huddled to formulate its post-election strategy.

The BJD was a part of the NDA for several years, but broke away in 2009. Mr Patnaik has previously said that Narendra Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, does not have the pan-Indian acceptance that a candidate for the top post needs.

Lately, Mr Patnaik has been counted as a member of a non-BJP, non-Congress alternate front, but skipped a meeting in February.