Support to Modi govt: BJD now in firing line of Opposition; AAP asks what compulsion?

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has now come in the direct firing line of the Opposition parties soon after the regional party from Odisha extended its support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre on two issues. First- The BJD announced to oppose the no-confidence motion and second, it extended support to the Bill replacing the Ordinance for the control of Services in the national capital Delhi.

Be it the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress or the Shiv Sena’s Uddhav group, every other party in the Opposition has now targeted the BJD and criticised its decision. All of them questioned what were the compulsions that forced the BJD to announce such support to the Modi government?

From Delhi to Odisha, speculations are now rife over BJD’s stance as it has always been claiming to be following an ‘equidistance policy’ of staying away from Congress and BJP.

Taking a swipe at the BJD, the Aam Aadmi Party said that there must be some compulsion for them to support the Bill in Parliament. The AAP leaders said that this is an anti-national Bill and those favouring it will be remembered as anti-nationals.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP, Raghav Chadha said, ““This is an anti-national Bill and those favouring it will be remembered as anti-nationals, while those who oppose it will be remembered as true patriots. The decision to support must be due to some compulsion.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said that the Bill is unconstitutional. Everybody should oppose it as it happened in Delhi today, it can happen in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha tomorrow, she said.

Not only at the national stage, BJD’s move has warmed up the political atmosphere in Odisha as well. The state Congress unit alleged that BJD extended support to the Modi government out of ED and CBI fear. Congress leader Bijay Patnaik alleged that though the BJD claims to be giving respect to women, how it is opposing the no-confidence motion brought at a time when women were subjected to sexual assault in Manipur?

“Whatever the reason may be, BJD's claim that it is working for women, has fallen flat,” said Patnaik.

The Odisha unit of BJP, on the other hand, has thrown the ball into BJD’s court. State BJP president, Manmohan Samal said only BJD can say why it extended support.

“We don’t have any problem in taking support. Only BJD can answer whether they extended support out of fear or any other thing,” said Samal. BJD, on the other hand, said the party doesn’t fear anyone and it was the decision of party supremo Naveen Patnaik.

“It is not quite correct to give the argument of federalism as far as Delhi is concerned. Our party has taken a stand not to oppose the Bill and let Supreme Court eventually decide the matter,” said BJD MP, Pinaki Mishra.

BJD MLA Prafulla Samal said, “We do not have any fear and as our leader said to support we are doing it.”

Amidst the ongoing war of words, many questions are cropping up - Is the BJD-BJP political equation going to change? Will the BJD change its equidistance policy? What will be its impact on the Odisha unit of the BJP?