Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 26:

BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik today denied of any infighting within the party while claiming that it was the largest political party in the state.

“I don’t feel there is any infighting in the party. Where is the infighting in the party?” questioned Patnaik to reporters who queried about infighting within the BJD on the former’s arrival in Bhubaneswar from New Delhi.

On being asked about the controversial article written by BJD MP from Cuttack Bhartruhari Mahtab in a periodical, the BJD supremo said: “I haven’t gone through the article yet. Let me read it. Then I will see what has to be said.”

The BJD supremo also put to rest media speculations about his party forging an alliance with the BJP in the backdrop of his visit to Krishna Menon Marg residence of ailing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

“That is not true. I heard that Mr. Vajpayee was not feeling very well, so I paid him a courtesy call, that is all,” Patnaik clarified.

Replying to queries of reporters on the issue of a united opposition candidate for the forthcoming presidential election, the BJD supremo said: “No plans yet and there were no discussions in Delhi as far as I am concerned.”

“I don’t think it is going weaker at all. Where is it going weaker? We have won four terms and are the largest party in the state. Where is it going weaker?” asked Patnaik when reporters enquired if the BJD was going weaker.