Bizodisha Bureau, Rourkela, April 1: A fresh phase of bonhomie is brewing between the BJP and BJD, its arch rival in Odisha.

The glimpses of the new BJP-BJP relationship which were seen during the passing Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Bill with BJD extending its support to the piece of legislation, – was in full flow on Wednesday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik as his Param Mitra or a great friend at a public meeting here.

He also thanked Naveen for his party BJD helping the MMDR Bill passed in Rajya Sabha.

“I must thank Naveen Babu for helping us to pass the MMDR Amendment Bill. Without BJD’s support, the Bill could not have got the nod of Rajya Sabha,” Mr Modi said.

The PM, who had dubbed Naveen during last year’s election campaign as an inefficient administrator pushing the state into poverty, also reflected his change of mind of his party towards Odisha.

“The last Finance Commission had given Odisha Rs 18,000 crore. But we have increased it to Rs 25,000 crore. We want to see that Odisha along with other eastern Indian states like Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal achieve economic growth,” the PM said.

The new found love between the BJD and BJP, which shared power for over a decade before getting separated in 2009 after the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati, – first came to light when party president Amit Shah did not speak a single word against Naveen at the BJP Maha Sangram rally here.

The rally was organized by state leaders to highlight a number of corruption issues. Ever since, the state leaders are sulking in silence.

According to political experts, Mr Modi’s praise will further demoralize the party workers at the grassroots who have been baying for the CM’s blood on issues like mining scam, land scam and chit fund scam.