BJP rules out support to BJD in Orissa for RS polls

Ruling out support to its estranged partner BJD in Orissa in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, the BJP today said the question of voting for Congress-backed Independent candidate would be examined and decision taken by the central party leadership.

"There is no question of extending direct or indirect support to the BJD in the Rajya Sabha elections," BJP national general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here, four days after the party announced its decision to abstain from the biennial polls in the state.

Following widespread resentment among partymen in the state over central leadership's direction to abstain from voting in the June 17 Rajya Sabha polls, Naidu discussed the issue with party MLAs and state leaders and obtained their views during his visit here.

The question of showing sympathy to BJD in any form does not arise, particularly in view of the manner in which the regional party, headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, "betrayed" BJP on the eve of the general elections held last year, he said.

However, BJP lacks adequate strength and support to field its own candidate in the elections as it has only six legislators in the 147-member Orissa Assembly, the BJP stalwart said.

Naidu said the question of supporting Congress-backed Independent candidate, industrialist Tara Ranjan Patnaik, would be examined by the central leadership and "a right decision will be taken at an appropriate time".