BJD will play important role in govt formation at Centre:

Ruling BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday said no party will get absolute majority in the Lok Sabha election and claimed that Odisha will play an important role in the formation of the next government at the Centre.

Patnaik said the regional party will support a government at the Centre that supports Odisha's legitimate rights.

"This time no national party will get majority on its own to form government. Odisha will have a role in the formation of the next Central government. There, the BJD will support a government which will meet the state's rights," he said while releasing the BJD's manifesto.

Alleging that successive Central governments have neglected the rights of Odisha, Patnaik said: "This neglect is historic and has led to Odisha being at the bottom of all Central subjects like telecom, railways, banking and national highways."
Targeting the saffron party, Patnaik said: "What could have been a more cruel joke on Odisha by the BJP than the promise of Special Category Status?"