Naveen Patnaik had in 2012 said that Gopalkrishna Gandhi was an "old and valued friend."
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today announced his party's support to Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the opposition's candidate for the vice-presidential election.
The regional party had supported NDA candidate Ram Nath Kovind in the presidential election, polling for which was held yesterday. However, Patnaik preferred to go with opposition parties this time.
"The Biju Janata Dal will support Sri Gopalkrishna Gandhi," the BJD president told reporters in Bhubaneswar .
BJD parliamentary party spokesman Kalikesh Singhdeo said, "Naveen Patnaik has proved that the BJD has been maintaining equal distance from the Congress and the BJP."
Mr Patnaik had in 2012 said Mr Gandhi was an "old and valued friend. We were friends even when I was not in politics".