Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik unlikely to be part of anti-BJP plank

BHUBANESWAR: With the opposition parties making yet another attempt to stitch together an allaince to take on Narendra Modi and the BJP in the 2024 general elections, talks have once again veered towards the path Naveen Patnaik would take. But given his and the BJD’s disposition towards the Congress, it is very unlikely they would be part of any non-BJP alliance.
Starting September 20, 19 non-BJP parties are planning joint protests against the Centre’s policies. But Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s Friday pitch for a broad unity of anti-BJP forces is unlikely to cut ice with Naveen, even though the BJP has emerged as the principal opposition in Odisha.
Even as Naveen sticks to his long-stated stand of maintaining equal distance from the BJP and the Congress, he would not deviate from his predicted path of having a good working relationship with the Centre, irrespective of who is in power.
Providing fodder for speculation about a possible BJD shift towards Congress, its parliamentary party leader Pinaki Mishra had earlier this month visited senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal’s house on the latter’s birthday when several opposition leaders had also gathered. Pinaki later clarified that he had only gone to wish Sibal on his birthday, and had nothing to do with politics.
One of country’s longest serving chief ministers, Naveen has never showed any ambition for national politics ever since he took over the reign of Odisha in 2000. The 74-year-old is comfortable on home turf and does not need any other party for his own political survival. In such a situation, being equidistant from the BJP and the Congress suits him fine as he charts his own political path.
“Focusing on numerous people connect and populist programmes, Naveen has endeared himself to the voters. It continues to remain his primary focus. At the same time, he would not annoy the Centre to ensure that the fund flow continues and the offnsive against the BJD is reserved only for elections,” says Asima Sahu, a professor of political science at Ravenshaw University.
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