BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday kept everyone guessing on his stand on the presidential elections by saying that the BJD is yet to decide on the issue. The BJD is yet to decide on whom to support in the presidential elections, he told mediapersons here after returning from New Delhi. “I need to consult MPs, MLAs and other senior leaders of the party before taking a decision on BJD’s support for the Presidential candidate,” Naveen said. Sources said the Chief Minister is not likely to open his cards before the names of the candidates are declared. Ruling BJD has 21 MPs (14 of Lok Sabha and seven Rajya Sabha) and 104 MLAs. Naveen is likely to attend the function of foundation stone of Odisha Bhavan in Chennai on May 10. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is also likely to be present. The meeting between the leaders has assumed significance in view of the presidential polls and the Opposition of the states to NCTC in its present form. Naveen reiterated that there is no possibility of a ministry reshuffle now. Speculation was rife about a reshuffle in the ministry in the near future though Naveen had also said there was no such plan. Naveen welcomed the recommendation of the Standing Committee of the Rajya Sabha for according Special Category Status (SCS) to Odisha. “This is a long-standing demand of the State and the recommendation of the Rajya Sabha committee will further strengthen it,” he said.
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