Odishatv Bureau

Bhubaneswar: After days of speculations, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today pledged support to Gopal Krishna Gandhi, his old friend and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, as BJD’s  candidate for the Vice-Presidential polls scheduled on August 5.

“The decision by party supremo to support Gandhi was unanimous and all the MPs from the party will vote for him in the upcoming elections,” Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Deb told OTV.

On the other hand Opposition Congress in the state has welcomed the move by the BJD. “I thank Naveen and welcome his decision. Gandhi is a better candidate for the post instead of Venkaiah Naidu who has been chosen by the ruling NDA," said Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra.

“Gandhi is not an active politician and was Governor of Bengal. He has lot of experience in administrative affairs and is a wise person. There is no question of friendship in BJD’s support because as far as I see Gandhi’s immaculate stature was the only reason that Naveen chose him for the post,” Mishra said adding that the move does not signify that the BJD is maintaining equidistance from both BJP and Congress.

Meanwhile, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the NDA will not be affected by BJD’s support to Gandhi. “It is a democracy. Everyone has a right to choose. We are sure Naidu will win the elections by good margin and make a very good Vice-President,” Pradhan said.

Gandhi was nominated for the post following unanimous decision by as many as 18 different parties under the united Opposition led by the UPA earlier on July 11. He filed his nomination for the elections today.

He will be pitched against NDA’s Venkaiah Naidu for election to the second-highest constitutional office in India.

There were speculations as to whether BJD would abstain from the polls just like the way they did last time during  2012 or whether they would  choose anyone from the candidates fielded by NDA and UPA.

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