The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has officially announced its decision to abstain from voting in the upcoming Vice-Presidential election, scheduled for Tuesday.
The announcement was made by BJD MP Sasmit Patra, who emphasized the party’s commitment to remaining politically neutral at the national level.
“After discussions between our party president Naveen Patnaik and senior leadership, it has been decided that we will abstain from tomorrow’s Vice-Presidential election,” Patra stated. “The Biju Janata Dal remains equidistant from both the NDA and INDIA alliances. We are focused on the development and welfare of Odisha and its 4.5 crore people.”
The move echoes BJD’s earlier decisions in similar national contests, reinforcing its position as a regional party that prioritizes state-centric governance over national coalition politics.
With seven members in the Rajya Sabha, BJD’s abstention could influence vote margins in a closely watched election. Political analysts view the decision as consistent with the party’s long-standing strategy of maintaining autonomy in national matters.
