Naveen Patnaik meets PM Modi, rules out alliance with opposition parties for 2024 elections
New Delhi/IBNS: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday ruled out the possibility of forming an alliance with the opposition in the 2024 national election, announcing that his Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party will contest alone.
Patnaik met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening and called it a "courtesy call".
Chief Minister of Odisha, Shri @Naveen_Odisha met Prime Minister @narendramodi.@CMO_Odisha pic.twitter.com/7ZBiUKxNhD
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 11, 2023
Asked whether the BJD would maintain its "equidistant" stance, he told reporters: "That has always been the plan."
This comes two days after his meeting with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the prime mover in opposition unity moves ahead of 2024.
Patnaik's announcement is a blow to Nitish Kumar's efforts to set up an anti-BJP alliance ahead of the 2024 polls.
Glad to meet #Bihar Chief Minister Shri @NitishKumar in #Bhubaneswar. #Odisha shares a special bond with Bihar and the people of the neighbouring state. Hope he had a pleasant and fruitful stay in Odisha. pic.twitter.com/tPGtvRisAz
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 9, 2023
Patnaik said he had met PM Modi to discuss shifting the international airport from Bhubaneswar to Puri, one of Odisha's biggest draws. "The PM said he will help in any way possible," he added.
The Odisha CM said he had no plans to meet any other political parties on this visit to Delhi.
"Not on this trip, not as far as I am concerned," he said, contradicting reports that suggested a flurry of meetings with opposition leaders including Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Patnaik had earlier met with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, one of the BJP's sharpest critics.
