No agenda for opposition unity in Naveen Patnaik-Mamata Banerjee meeting: BJD

Insiders said that the BJD in Odisha is very clear that it is not going to be a part of a possible Third Front.

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oi-Dharmender Kumar

Published: Saturday, March 18, 2023, 21:47 [IST]

Biju Janata Dal insiders have dismissed speculation that Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee may discuss “opposition unity” during their likely meeting on March 23.

In fact, CM Mamata Banerjee will offer prayers at the 12th century Jagannath temple in Puri on March 22 and meet Naveen Patnaik the next day before returning to Kolkata from his two-day visit to Odisha.

Let us tell you that these speculations got strengthened when former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and President of Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav took a pledge to stand behind Mamata Banerjee while maintaining equal distance from BJP and Congress. But, putting speculations to rest, BJD insiders said that our ruling regional party in Odisha is very clear that it is not going to be a part of a possible Third Front.

It is noteworthy that Naveen Patnaik has followed his policy of maintaining equidistance from BJP and Congress ever since the BJD parted ways with the NDA in 2008. However, the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD has supported the Narendra Modi government at the Center on all issues.

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