BJD will 'explore all possibilities' after results

Bhubaneswar, May 16 (IANS) Orissa's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Saturday distanced itself from speculation that it has developed an understanding with the Congress on the issue of government formation in the centre and the state but said it would explore 'all possibilities' after the results.

'We stand by what we had said earlier,' BJD secretary general Damodar Rout told IANS, adding that his party was hoping to form the government of its own in the state and would support a non-BJP and non-Congress government in the centre.

He denied reports that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had phoned Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Regarding reports of talks between Congress leader Kamal Nath and Patnaik, Rout said: 'Somebody might have talked to Patnaik informally.'

'We are confident about forming the government on our own strength in Orissa. We have already said we would not join any BJP or Congress-led government in the centre.'

'After the poll results are out, we will explore all possibilities. We will see which party will protect the interest of the state. Congress has a long history of neglecting Orissa,' he said.

He said the party had not received any call from any NDA leaders.

Orissa went to the polls on April 16 and April 23 for its 21 seats. It also held simultaneous polls for elections to 147-member assembly.