BJD to extend unconditional support to BJP

NEW DELHI, March 8: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Parliamentary party leader Navin Patnaik told Atal Behari Vajpayee today that his party would extend "unconditional" support to his government but was "yet" to decide on its participation in the BJP-led ministry.

Navin Patnaik, whose party won nine out of 21 seats in Orissa in the just concluded Lok Sabha polls, was accompanied by newly elected MPs who last night elected Navin as their leader. They also decided to "unconditionally" suport Vajpayee’s government.

Orrisa Assembly’s Opposition leader, Ram Krisna Patnaik who accompanied Navin said, Vajpayee was informed that the party would consider participating in the government only after an assurance was given that Orissa, which has been neglected for years, would be given special treatment for its speedy development.

Other members of the delegation included Prabhat Kumar Samantrayt, B K Tripathi and Dilip Ray.