Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said that he intends to remain equidistant from the both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress in the post-poll scenario.
Speaking to NDTV on board his helicopter while on the campaign trail, Mr Patnaik said he welcomed the results of NDTV's latest opinion poll, which indicates that his Biju Janta Dal (BJD) is set to sweep Odisha, possibly winning 18 of the 21 Lok Sabha seat in the state. (
Opinion Poll: In Odisha, Naveen Patnaik emerges stronger)
If this poll prediction becomes a reality, Mr Patnaik may well be approached by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance to become a coalition partner, thereby ensuring that the alliance can cross the magic mark of 272 to form the government at the Centre.
Mr Patnaik has had a long association with the NDA -- between 1998 and 2009 -- which he ended to go it alone in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls. (
India Votes 2014: full coverage)
Refusing to directly answer a question on whether he was ideologically opposed to the BJP, Mr Patnaik reiterated, "Our party remains equidistant from the BJP and the Congress."
On being asked if he had a personal equation with BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Mr Patnaik said, "No, none at all."
When queried about reports of several dissident members within the BJD, he said, "The BJD is a disciplined party and we have much less dissidence than other parties."
Not ruling out the possibility of a Third Front government coming to power at the Centre after the parliamentary polls, Mr Patnaik said, "I think it is early days . The results will tell."
Quite clearly, the Odisha chief minister is in a wait-and-watch mode before committing to any major announcement before the election results are announced.
He remains satisfied, however, that his party looks set to sweep the elections in his state.
Odisha votes for assembly and Lok Sabha elections in two phases -- on April 10 and on April 17.