By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 26, 2017 : Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee [OPCC] president, Prasad Harichandan on Monday blasted the ruling Biju Janata Dal president and Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik for announcing support to NDA’s presidential candidate, even before UPA picked up its candidate for the post.

Asserting that the move showed the regional party’s affinity to BJP and desire to protect its narrow interests, Harichandan said, ” Patnaik announced BJD support to NDA’s presidential candidate immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him which shows the close ties between them,” he told reporters here.

Harichandan said the BJD chief is desperately trying to safeguard his own interest and that

of his party by announcing support to Ram Nath Kovind, fielded by NDA for election to the top post.

BJD justified its support to Kovind describing him as a dalit leader, but with UPA fielding Meira Kumar, who is not only a dalit but also a woman, for the presidential poll, the regional party is now at a fix.

Urging the BJD reconsider its decision, the OPCC president pointed out the regional party’s hypocrisy. “The BJD staged a state-wide stir in the morning against BJP-led government at the Centre over issues like demand for special category status to Odisha, Mahanadi river water dispute and MSP for paddy, and in the same evening announced support to the NDA candidate without waiting for UPA to name its pick”, he remarked.

If Patnaik can back NDA candidate instantly after getting a phone call from Modi, he should also get Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh resolved and special category status tag by simply making a call to the prime minister, the Congress leader said.

Harichandan also disputed Patnaik’s claim that he held consultations with senior party leaders over presidential election as “misleading” saying that some BJD leaders are now questioning the decision to back the NDA candidate in a hurry without waiting for UPA to declare its candidate.

“Though BJD claims to maintain equi-distance from BJP and Congress, its love for BJP is no more a secret. There exists a deep BJD-BJP understanding,” Harichandan said and asked BJD leaders to use their conscience while voting in the presidential election.