Kandhamal violence caused BJP-BJD break-up: Naveen Patnaik

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for the first time spoke out against supporting either a Congress or a BJP government at the Centre. He was speaking at a joint press conference with the Left and NCP leader Sharad Pawar. Slamming the BJP, Patnaik had said that the alliance in the state had to be broken because it became impossible for him to stay with the saffron party after the Kandhanmal riots which "horrified the entire world". Patnaik broke his silence on his party's rupture with the BJP in this chat with CNN-IBN.

CNN-IBN: You held a big rally in Orissa on Wednesday. Are you now forging a new Third Front? You were sharing the platform with both the Left and NCP's Sharad Pawar.

Naveen Patnaik: Well, we have just had a press conference together with Sharad Pawar of the NCP, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and senior leaders of the CPI. All our four parties were speaking to the media. And as you know the four parties have seat adjustments both for the Lok Sabha and for the Assembly in the state. I know we will do very well and I think it's time that parties like ours got together and all I wish to say about the Biju Janata Dal as far as Centre is concerned - we will not support a Congress-led or a BJP-led government at the Centre.

CNN-IBN: You are saying you will not back either a Congress-led or BJP-led government at the Centre. You are saying that a Third Front is a preferred option. Is that a commitment you are making now - to the voters of Orissa particularly?

Naveen Patnaik: Yes indeed and to everyone else outside the state that the Biju Janata Dal will not support a Congress-led government or a BJP-led government at the Centre.

CNN-IBN: So you are now ready for the Third Front and are a part of a Third Front aspiring for power at the Centre?

Naveen Patnaik: Our agreement with these parties I think is very healthy for my state and of course we certainly anticipate with the peoples' blessings to win a number of seats in the Lok Sabha and it is the duty of a regional party.

CNN-IBN: Will you be prepared to back Sharad Pawar as a prime-ministerial candidate?

Naveen Patnaik: Well, let us see what the results are in the Lok Sabha and what the scenario is after May 16 and I am sure from the results itself a solution will come as it always does.

CNN-IBN: Your critics are saying that you betrayed the BJP just before the elections and your ally L K Advani. How do you respond to that charge?

Naveen Patnaik: Let me be very clear. We were discussing seats. I think they were being far too exaggerated in the number of seats that they required. Also, the aftermath of Kandhamal had started showing them as not healthy for my state. That had begun after the Kandhamal incident. Before that we were lucky enough in the nine years of my chief-ministership not to have any serious communal problems, but you know how serious and how horrible Kandhamal was.

CNN-IBN: You are now saying Kandhamal, but many are suggesting that the break with the BJP is just temporary - perhaps till the BJP does well in the elections. Would you say that the break is temporary or permanent.

Naveen Patnaik: I can assure you on behalf of my party and obviously myself that there is certainly not going to be a tie-up with the BJP ever.

Source: IBN Live