BJD to stay out of Vice-Presidential Election, will abstain from voting

Leading Opposition party in Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), decided on Monday not to participate in the upcoming vice-presidential election. According to party sources, the decision was taken in a recent internal meeting, and the party will also abstain from voting in the election.

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This decision was taken in a key meeting of the BJD political affairs committee.

BJD, which currently has seven members (MPs) in the Rajya Sabha, has chosen neither to nominate a candidate nor to support any other contestant. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has announced CPI’s C.P. Radhakrishnan as its candidate, while the Opposition bloc has fielded B. Sudershan Reddy.

This move signals BJD’s intent to remain neutral in the contest, emphasising its independent stance amid the ongoing political dynamics in the upper house.

“Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has decided to abstain from the vice-presidential election tomorrow. The BJD remains equidistant from both the NDA and the INDI Alliance. We are focused on the development and welfare of Odisha, and 4.5 crore people of Odisha,” BJD MP, Sasmit Patra, said.

Reacting to this, senior BJP leader Jual Oram stated, “We have the support. Indirectly, they are supporting us. Naveen Babu (BJD supremo and the Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly) has indirectly been supporting. To abstain otherwise means to support.”

When contacted, political analyst Prasanna Mohanty opined, “This can be termed as a clever decision of the BJD. Maintaining equidistance, as is being claimed by the other parties, is undoubtedly wise for the BJD. Otherwise, a decision previously taken by the party at the time of voting during the Waqf Bill would have led the BJD to an explosive situation.”