Bhubaneswar, Sep 8: With the Vice Presidential election scheduled for Tuesday, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has officially announced its decision to abstain from voting.

The move comes amid speculation over which side the party would support — either the NDA-backed candidate CP Radhakrishnan or the INDIA bloc’s nominee, Justice (Retd.) B Sudershan Reddy.

BJD’s Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra confirmed the decision, stating that after consultations with party president Naveen Patnaik, senior leaders, and the Political Affairs Committee, the party has chosen to remain equidistant from both national alliances. “Our priority is the development and welfare of Odisha’s 4.5 crore people,” Patra emphasized.

This strategic abstention avoids aligning with either the NDA or the INDIA bloc, preserving BJD’s independent political identity. Analysts suggest that had BJD supported the NDA candidate, it might have reignited talks of a tacit BJP-BJD alliance. Conversely, backing the opposition could have drawn the ire of the central government. By choosing a third path, BJD maintains its autonomy in national politics.

The Vice Presidential post became vacant following Jagdeep Dhankhar’s resignation, and Tuesday’s election will be a direct contest between two contrasting political visions.