New Delhi, April 19 (Inditop) Orissa Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Naveen Patnaik has said he would support only a non-Bharatiya Janata Party or non-Congress government at the centre and was ready to consider NCP chief Sharad Pawar as well as any Left leader as the next prime minister.
In an interview on CNN-IBN’s “Devil’s Advocate” programme, Patnaik said that he would look into “with a great level of possibility” at the candidature of Nationalist Congress Party’s Sharad Pawar for the top job.
“We can certainly look into that with a great level of possibility,” Patnaik said.
He also mentioned that he would give serious consideration to a communist prime minister. “That too could be considered because at present we have seat adjustments with the CPI, CPI-M and Sharad Pawar’s party, the Nationalist Congress Party (in Orissa).”
Asked to elaborate, he said: “I assume or I think that there will be a government which will not be led by the Congress or the BJP.”
Speaking on his break with his previous state ally BJP, Patnaik said that the national party had “not been honest” in its alliance with the BJD, and their performance in the government was “fairly incompetent”.
“But those are minor in comparison to what happened in Kandhamal”, he said referring to the widespread anti-Christian violence that gripped the Orissa district last year after the killing of a Hindu religious leader, forcing thousands to flee their homes and stay in refugee camps.
Patnaik described as “unbelievable” comparisons made between him and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the Kandhamal riots. “I think in a secular manner, have a totally secular background. I never considered that a correct comparison,” he said.
On the reason for the break with BJP, Patnaik said that his offer for seats to the former coalition partner in Orissa was realistic. “I think that my offer was pretty realistic. They could not afford to stand for more than few seats� I had given a realistic offer and indeed it did break the alliance.”
He said that events moved very quickly once the BJP-BJD alliance broke down. “Our new friends quickly offered support, for which we are grateful,” Patnaik said, referring to the Left and NCP.
rounak