BJD to support NDA’s Presidential candidate

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday said his party will support NDA’s presidential nominee Ramnath Kovind.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a telephonic conservation sought the support of BJD for the candidature of Ramnath Kovind as Presidential nominee.

“As you all know, last time when the Presidential elections happened, BJD had proposed the name of Shri P.A. Sangma, an eminent leader from the tribal community.  Based on the request of BJD, many parties including the BJP had supported his nomination,” said the Chief Minister.

“In this backdrop and the fact that Sri Ramnath Kovind is an eminent lawyer belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, after discussing with the senior party leaders, BJD had decided to support the candidature of Shri Ramnath Kovind,” said Patnaik.

He said the Office of the President of India is above political considerations and BJD wants to keep it above politics.