Won’t support NDA candidate in Vice Presidential poll: BJD’s Mahesh Sahoo

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has categorically ruled out extending support to the NDA-backed candidate in the upcoming Vice Presidential election. Senior BJD leader Mahesh Sahoo confirmed the party’s stance on Friday, stating that the BJD would ‘in no way support the NDA nominee.’

Addressing reporters, Sahoo said, in the past, we had supported the NDA’s Presidential candidate as she hailed from Odisha. But this time, there is no such circumstance. The situation is entirely different now, and we will oppose the NDA candidate in totality.

“We're not going to vote for the NDA supported candidate in the Vice President election. This is very clear. As the presidential candidate belonged to Odisha, we extended our support. But the situation is different now,” said Sahoo.

 He further clarified that recent controversies, such as the Waqf Board issue, are not under discussion at the moment, but the decision on the Vice Presidential election remains firm.

This marks a significant shift in the BJD’s political alignment, as the regional party had previously offered conditional support to the BJP-led NDA in national matters. 

The latest announcement indicates a hardening of stance after the formation of the new government in Odisha, where the BJP replaced the long-serving BJD regime.

So far, the BJP has not officially responded to BJD’s announcement.