Rediff
Bhubhaneshwar, Mar 10: Declaring that its erstwhile coalition partner in Orissa, Biju Janata Dal, and the Congress are its prime enemies, the Bharatiya Janata Party has threatened to expose the 'misdeeds' of the Naveen Patnaik government.
"Being part of the coalition, we know the misdeeds of the Naveen government and have enough material against it, which would be made known during electioneering in phases," BJP state president Suresh Pujari told reporters on Monday night.
Dubbing BJD as 'a great betrayer', Pujari said the party had been talking to Left parties and the Nationalist Congress Party on seat-sharing, even when its parleys with BJP were going on.
"We were aware that the BJD was holding talks with other parties for the last six months, but we remained silent, hoping it will stick to coalition dharma," Pujari said. He said that Patnaik could become the chief minister twice with BJP's support, but this time it would be difficult for him to retain power.
"The BJD could win the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats in the 1998 and 1999 polls riding on the Atal Bihari Vajpayee wave, but this time it is going to be a tough job for it," Pujari said.
Accusing the BJD of unilaterally snapping the alliance to help the Congress, BJP leader B B Harichandan said people of Orissa would teach a lesson to Patnaik for 'betraying' the people's mandate.
Meanwhile, the Congress is still chalking out the strategy for the vote of confidence. "We are yet to decide. Our legislature party will meet before the trust vote and finalise our stand," Leader of Opposition Ulaka Ramachandra said.
Though divergent views were believed to have emanated from Congress leaders on the issue, chairman of party's media cell Kailash Acharya said the Congress should oppose the government and try to unseat it, irrespective of the stand taken by other parties on the issue. Some party leaders said on the condition of anonymity that Congress Members of Legislative Assembly should either abstain from voting or support the motion as they must not side with BJP.