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Bhubaneswar: The ruling NDA has further consolidated its position in Rajya Sabha crossing the 110-mark and it needs only 12 more seats to reach the halfway-mark in the 242-member House. Speculations are now rife that the strong position of BJP, which has 92 seats in the Upper House, may affect its equation with the ruling BJD in Odisha.
Be it the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 or the withdrawal of Article 370, BJD has always extended its support to the NDA government in the House. However, Congress feels that the BJD's support to BJP was part of the ruling party's efforts to save itself.
"BJD has always extended support to the BJP for its own safety. That's why, even though there are several cases of corruption like the chit fund and COVID-19 PPE kit scam, no action has been taken by the Centre," alleged Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik.
However, BJD MLA Pramila Mallick said, "What had they (BJP) done for Odisha by taking our support and what would be the loss if they will not seek our support? We are not insecure and have not sought for security to anyone."
She further said that the BJP and the Congress in the State have a secret nexus.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi said, "BJP's tally in Rajya Sabha is now at 92, while Congress has shrinked to 38. Our strong position in the Upper House will help development in the country."
On the other hand, political experts opined that the understanding that had developed between the BJP and the BJD after 2019 general elections has faced a setback during the bypolls to the Balasore Sadar and Tirtol Assembly constituencies in the State.
NDA has reached to a comfortable position in Rajya Sabha. And now, it seems the soft corner of the BJP towards BJD may change and adopt an aggressive stand, said senior journalist Prasanna Mohanty.
