Naveen Patnaik keeps Mulayam Guessing

While Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav has triggered a fresh debate on the possibility of a Third Front government at the Centre aftermath 2014 polls, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik has refused to open his cards, saying he would prefer to wait and watch the developments.

Talking to the reporters during his five-day Delhi visit, Naveen said, “We will wait and watch and see how things develop in the coming days before taking a final call on it”. Political pundits believe that Naveen may prefer to join hands with the BJP, with which he shared a nine-year-long relationship before parting ways ahead of 2009 polls. That proved a disaster for the BJP in Odisha, as the party could win just six seats in Odisha Assembly and failed to win a single Lok Sabha seat in the state.

The Congress Party may try to woo Naveen Patnaik with a special status offer, but it would be difficult for the BJD supremo to bite that bait, as the former remains his “Enemy No. 1” in Odisha. However, he may join a Third Front, if it emerges stronger in national politics with people like Mulayam, Sharad Pawar and Chandrababu Naidu at the helm.