BJD not part of Mahagathabandhan: Odisha CM

Bhubaneswar, Jan 9 (IANS) Biju Janata Dal (BJD) President and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday said his party will not be a part of Mahagathabandhan, a grand alliance of opposition parties. He also said that the party will continue to remain equidistant from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress. "As far as the Mahagathbandhan is concerned, BJD is not a part of it. We continue with our policy of equidistance from the BJP and Congress," said Patnaik. At a farmers' convention in New Delhi on Tuesday, the Chief Minister had said that the party will decide on joining the grand alliance of opposition parties later. He also denied about any ministry reshuffle after the resignation of Agriculture and Panchayati Raj Minister Pradeep Maharathy over his controversial remark on the acquittal of two accused in a gangrape and murder case in his Pipili Assembly constituency.
--IANS cd/mr