"PM Modi, Naveen Patnaik share commitment for federalism": VK Pandian, says Patnaik's politics is rooted in anti-Congress

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], February 8 : As the Biju Janata Dal gears up for a tough fight in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, it is is banking on talismanic leader Naveen Patnaik even as the BJP and Congress hope to breach the bastion of the Odisha party.
Naveen Patnaik maybe pitted against Prime Minister Modi in the battle of the ballot but the two leaders share a wonderful rapport with the BJD often voting with the government on crucial bills.
BJD leader and former IAS officer VK Pandian says that PM Modi and Naveen Patnaik have great mutual respect.
"I would see this from two angles. The relationship between the honourable Prime Minister and the Chief Minister. I have seen them interact from 2011 onwards. I have been with them. One angle is the respect they have for each other. They respect the people's mandate, that genuine respect which comes when you enjoy the confidence of people. That is the first thing both have. If you see both meeting for the first time, you will see that as if they are great friends and meeting after a long time. Something like that you will feel. That is the kind of rapport both have," Pandian said
"The second is their commitment for federalism. Why I am using this word federalism? It was UPA 2, I remember. They were planning to introduce NCTC, National Counter Terrorism Act or something. Mr Chidambaram's dream child. And then they were giving more powers to RPF, Railway Protection Force, through which they can act inside a state's territory. All of it were encroaching the state's jurisdiction, domain. Mr. Modi, Madam Jayalalithaa, and Naveen Patnaik. I remember the three decided to walk out of the National Development Council meeting, must be 2011-12. They had that rapport from that time onwards, working for a cause, working for federal principles, keeping larger interest of country in focus" he added.
Pandian said that on matters of principle the BJD has opposed many bills put forth by the centre.
"When something is against the interest of the country, the BJD has always opposed it. Or when BJD is not convinced about something, BJD has not gone ahead with BJP. I will give you two examples. One is the farmer's bill. BJD did not support. Farmer's bill was withdrawn. The second one was NRC. Our chief minister made it very clear it is not good for the country" Pandian said.
"Our Chief Minister believes in not doing politics when elections are not around. He believes strongly in work. He says that I am in this job to work for the people. Whatever help the people of the state need, he will take that decision at that point of time. He is very clear in his approach" Pandian said.
Pandian says that Nitish Kumar had approached Naveen Patnaik to join the INDIA bloc but the Odisha CM's politics was rooted in opposition to Congress.
"He is now 24 years as Chief Minister. They know very well as to what is Naveen Patnaik, who is Naveen Patnaik. His birth was anti-Congress in the state. He fought against the corruption of Congress in the state. So, I do not see any scope for the Chief Minister to think about an alliance. He has always stated it publicly. So that is where he stands. I think, Nitish Kumar came here all the way to convince Naveen Babu to join INDIA Alliance. And now Nitish Babu is in the other camp. So many leaders came, keep coming. And Naveen Babu is very polite. They all know each other for quite some time. Three decades, two and a half decades, they know each other" Pandian said.
Speaking about the Congress Party's Bharat Jodo Yatra that passed through Odisha on Wednesday, Pandian said that the Chief Minister did not even get to know of the Yatra.
"If I may humbly say, honourable Chief Minister will not even know that that Yatra is passing. He (Rahul Gandhi) can bring whatever, but it's very insignificant. If I may humbly put it, the Yatra which will cross Orissa will be insignificant, both for BJD and for Congress" Pandian said.
"BJD will be very happy if Congress gets a little rejuvenated because it is good to have a triangular fight always. If Congress picks up a little bit, it is good. We should always have good opposition, means strong opposition, BJP, Congress. then it is good for the state" Pandian added.
Pandian says Naveen Patnaik prefers to keep the political fight decent and dignified.
"Chief Minister never believes in volatile political situation. He keeps a very decent and dignified political discourse. If you see him, he never attacks any opposition. It is his style of functioning. And people of Odisha appreciate that, respect that, that dignified conduct. So, this drama, this shouting, this brick batting... It does not happen so much in Odisha because he is like a towering personality who is unshaken. He is stable. He does not react or respond. He goes to people with his facts. In fact, in 2019, his only campaign word was--Are you happy with me? It became an iconic word" Pandian said.
Pandian predicts that Naveen Patnaik will return as CM for the sixth term later this year
"Naveen Babu will come with a huge majority, thumping majority, as always. And his numbers will be always higher than the previous election" Pandian said sounding confident of his party's chances in the upcoming state and Lok Sabha polls.