Bhubaneswar, 8 September (H.S.): The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday announced its decision to abstain from voting in the Vice Presidential election scheduled for September 9. The announcement was made by BJD Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra in New Delhi.

“The BJD has decided to abstain from tomorrow’s Vice Presidential election. Our party continues to maintain equidistance from both the NDA and the INDIA alliances. We remain committed to the development and welfare of Odisha and its 4.5 crore people,” Patra said while addressing reporters.

The Naveen Patnaik-led BJD, currently the principal opposition in Odisha, has seven members in the Rajya Sabha but no representation in the Lok Sabha.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda