Rumours of BJD supporting NDA are speculation, says Yechury

Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury on Wednesday dismissed reports of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) extending issue-based support to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) should it come to power, as mere speculation.

"Let us see, these are all speculations; only after the results are out, will the discussions take place. Therefore, wait for twenty-four hours, till then, all are speculations. That has been the historical tradition in India, be it Manmohan Singh, Atal Behari Vajpayee or Deve Gowda becoming prime ministers," Yechury told media here.

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said he has not talked to anyone in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance about government formation at the Centre.

"Not in talks with NDA, have not decided to support NDA as we have not discussed yet," Patnaik said.

However, party leader Jay Panda said, "Naveen Patnaik has said BJD is equidistant from BJP and Congress, but demands for conditional support to next government are there."

A top BJD leader had yesterday hinted that his party may join back the NDA camp to help in government formation at the Centre.

BJD leader Pravati Tripathi said on Wednesday that the Naveen Patnaik-led party may give conditional support to the NDA at the Centre.

The BJD has demanded special state status for Odisha in exchange of its support to the NDA.