Bhubaneswar: Ending days of speculation, BJP
today announced its decision to support Congress-backed
independent candidate Tara Ranjan Patnaik in Rajya Sabha polls
to be held tomorrow in Orissa.
"All six BJP MLAs will vote for Patnaik in tomorrow`s
Rajya Sabha election as per the decision taken by the party`s
central leadership," BJP Orissa unit chief Jual Oram said.
He said the party has issued whip to its six MLAs
to vote for the independent candidate, a prominent
industrialist of Orissa.
Independent member Pratap Sarangi will also vote for
Patnaik.
BJP`s announcement came six days after senior leader M
Venkaiah Naidu ruled out support to former ally BJD in the
polls.
BJP central leadership had initially planned to abstain
from the polls, but changed its stand following widespread
resentment in the state unit.
PTI
