Bhubaneswar: Amid speculations regarding an alliance between the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Odisha 5T Chairman and BJD leader VK Pandian today said the regional party doesn't need the saffron party to form government in the state. Pandian was speaking at News 18's Rising Bharat Summit.

However, Pandian also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the BJP may not need BJD to form government in Centre.

"Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is very popular in the state. In the last panchayat polls, his party (BJD) won 90 per cent of the seats. BJP stood at the second position with 5 percent. He doesn't need alliance to come back to serve the people," said Pandian.

"I would say the same thing about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is going to become the PM of the country and Naveen Patnaik is going to be the CM of Odisha. There is something beyond politics. It is a mark of great statesmanship. They are two great leaders wanting to come together for a greater cause. It has nothing to do with politics. That's how I see it," he said.

On being asked about the status of the possible alliance, Pandian said, "If anything happens, we all will get to know."

When Pandian was asked whether he is the political successor of Naveen Patnaik, he replied, "I don't think I should answer this. The people of Odisha will answer it. BJD is a vehicle which was created by the CM to transform the state. Such a futuristic thinking CM would definitely have planned out something for the BJD."