NCP divided over support to BJD

BHUBANESWAR: Differences have again cropped up between the organisational and legislative wings of the State unit of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) over the issue of extending support to the BJD.While the State unit had resolved to withdraw support to the BJD and extend issue based support, the legislature party maintained there was no change in strategy. The ties between the BJD and NCP continue as before, leader of the NCP Legislature Party Amar Prasad Satpathy told this paper. Satpathy said central leader DP Tripathy had met party MLAs after the State  executive in the first week of June and said there was no change in the party’s policy. The State unit cannot take a unilateral decision in this matter and the approval of the national  party is needed, he said.Sources said Tripathy had met Rajya Sabha member Pyarimohan Mohapatra after the state executive to explain the position to him. This is for the second time that the State unit has taken such a decision to cut off all links with the BJD. After the State executive meeting, State unit president Utkal Keshari Parida had said the party would function independently in the State and chart out its future course of action. NCP’s national council member from the State Arun Dey was also highly critical about the functioning of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Though the NCP is in the UPA, the party had fought the 2009 Assembly election in the State having seat adjustment with the BJD. In the 147-seat Assembly, the NCP has four MLAs. The BJD has 103 and does not have to depend on any political party to form a government.  The NCP extends support to the BJD in the Assembly on all issues, but has not been included in the ministry.