Naveen Patnaik on the worst thing in politics in BJP-BJD alliance talks

“Sir, what’s the worst thing in politics?”

Bhubaneswar:

Odisha Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said “rumors” and “lies” are the worst part of politics. He made the remarks while talking to his close aide, 5T (Transformation) and Nabin Odisha chairman VK Pandian.

“Sir, rajanitire sabutu kharap jinisa kan (What is the worst thing in politics)?” Pandian asked the CM. In his reply, Patnaik said: “Gujjab (rumors) and michha katha (lies).”

#watch | When 5T Chairman VK Pandian asked him “What is the worst element in politics?”, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik said: “Rumors and lies are the worst elements in politics.”

(Source: BJD) pic.twitter.com/i9MLTTdMsS

— ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2024

While suspense over a possible alliance between the ruling BJD and the opposition BJP continues, a video of Pandian talking to Patnaik went viral on Saturday.

Politics The situation remained fluid throughout the day.

Pandian, accompanied by BJD organizing secretary Pranab Prakash Das, visited the national capital on Thursday evening for talks on cooperation with the top brass of the BJP.

While Samar and Tomar said there were no alliance talks, senior BJP leader and MP Jual Oram admitted on Thursday that they discussed an alliance.

There are two different take on Patnaik’s statement that rumors and lies are the worst part of politics.

According to sources, Patnaik’s response could suggest that talk of a tie-up was “gossip” and “lies”, or that Samar and Tomar’s statement that the alliance was not discussed was “gossip” and “lies”.

It is not clear from the video what Patnaik really means and the purpose of posting the video on Instagram.

However, sources in both camps claim that the two parties are discussing an alliance.

BJD leader Nrushingha Sahu and BJP leader Jual Oram admitted discussions over the alliance took place. However, BJP state president Samar denied this.

Since 2004, the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Odisha have been held simultaneously.

Tomar, who arrived here from the national capital, said leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party had not met him in New Delhi, where top brass was holding a poll meeting.

“If alliance discussions have been held, such talks with the BJD are neither within my knowledge nor have I been informed about the situation on our part,” Tomar said.

However, senior BJP leader and Sundergarh MP Jual Oram told reporters in Delhi on March 6 that the alliance was being discussed.

Tomar claimed that the BJP has been making all preparations to contest on its own in the state. “We (BJP) will win more than 80 assembly seats and more than 16 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha,” he told reporters.

Insisting on talking about a possible alliance between the two former allies (BJD and BJP were in coalition government in Odisha from 2000 to 2009), Tomar said, “Ask those who floated the idea of ​​alliance in Odisha “.

The suspense deepened as two senior BJD leaders, VK Pandian and Pranab Prakash Das, also remained silent after their visit to New Delhi on Thursday evening.

Tomar claimed that BJD leaders had not met him in Delhi.

However, senior BJD MP Nrusingha Charan Sahu said on Saturday that the BJD will win at least 110 of Odisha’s 147 assembly seats, whether in alliance or not. “I have heard speculations about an alliance. CM Naveen Patnaik will take the final call on this,” he said.

When asked about talks on the alliance, Sahu said, “The BJD has agreed to an alliance only for the benefit of Odisha. The people of Odisha will benefit from the alliance”.

Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samar, who returned from Delhi on Friday for talks with central leaders during his visit to Bhadrak on Saturday, dismissed any talk of an alliance. “I don’t know who is promoting the alliance in the state. You’ve got to get to the root of it.” Only the person who started the discussion can answer this question. There will be a lotus movement in Odisha in the coming elections,” Samar said. PTI AAM Tomar, who arrived here from the national capital, said leaders of the ruling BJD had not met him in New Delhi and the people of India Party senior leaders are holding a poll meeting in New Delhi.

“If alliance discussions have been held, such talks with the BJD are neither within my knowledge nor have I been informed in this regard,” Tomar told reporters.

However, senior BJP leader and Sundergarh MP Jual Oram told reporters in Delhi on March 6 that the alliance was being discussed. Oram said this after attending a high-level meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was also attended by Tomar.

Tomar claimed that the BJP has been making all preparations to contest a separate election. “We (BJP) will win more than 80 assembly seats and more than 16 Lok Sabha seats,” Tomar told reporters.

Insisting on talking about a possible alliance between the two former allies (BJD and BJP were in coalition government in Odisha from 2000 to 2009), Tomar said, “Ask those who floated the idea of ​​alliance in Odisha “.

The suspense deepened as two senior BJD leaders, VK Pandian and Pranab Prakash Das, also remained silent after their visit to New Delhi on Thursday evening.

Tomar claimed that BJD leaders had not met him in Delhi.

However, senior BJD MP Nrusingha Charan Sahu said on Saturday that the BJD will win at least 110 of Odisha’s 147 assembly seats, whether in alliance or not. “I have heard speculations about an alliance. CM Patnaik will take the final call,” he said.

When asked whether talks for an alliance were underway, Sahu said, “The BJD has agreed to an alliance only for the benefit of Odisha. The people of Odisha will benefit from it”.

Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samar dismissed alliance talks during his visit to Bhadrak on Saturday.

“I don’t know who is promoting the alliance talks. You have to go back to the source. Only the person who initiated the discussion can answer that question,” Samar said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)