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By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 14, 2019: Politics makes strange bedfellows. Nobody is ‘untouchable’ as far as politics is concerned. This is what one can see in Odisha with the ruling BJD and BJP healing praise on each other over post cyclone Fani management and assistance.

It all began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he praised Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for effectively tackling cyclone Fani during his visit to Odisha to take stock of the situation on May 6.

A week later, Naveen reciprocated and shot off a ‘Thank You’ letter to Modi for lending assistance to the State for post cyclone Fani restoration and rehabilitation. The Chief Minister’s Office also thanked Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for lending a helping hand to the State.

This has led to speculation that BJP might fall back on its old ally BJD, if it falls short of the numbers to form government at the Centre.

However, BJD spokesperson Pratap Deb made it clear that “Such gestures are merely exchange of courtesies between the governments. Only after counting on May 23, it will be known who will need whose support.”