Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Orissa, which broke off its 11-year-old alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is yet to take a decision on forging any alliance with the Third Front.
BJD supremo and Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who will face a floor test in the Orissa Assembly on Wednesday to prove his majority following withdrawal of support by the BJP, said that his party will take the decision on joining the Third Front soon.
BJD sources said the party would not attend the convention of the Third Front to be held at Tumkur on March 12 to formally announce the launching of the front.
The Chief Minister said his party would enter into seat sharing with some like-minded parties who have extended support to the government.
Besides the two Left parties, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha have lent their support to the Government after the 32-member BJP legislative party withdrew support and demanded imposition of President's rule in the state.
Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury had already held discussions with the Chief Minister and both the BJD and the CPI-M have agreed to have a pre-poll alliance in the state for the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
Communist Party of India leader AB Bardhan is arriving in Bhubaneshwar on March 13 to attend the party's state working committee meeting. He is likely to hold discussion with Patnaik on the possible pre-poll alliance.
The NCP and the JMM have yet to take any decision on the possible alliance with the BJD although they have decided to support the government in the vote of confidence.
Chief Minister, who presided over the BJD legislature party meeting on Tuesday evening ahead of the floor test in the Assembly, claimed that they have clear majority in the 147-member Assembly and affirmed that the government would continue.
Parliamentary and Assembly elections will be held in the state in two phases on April 16 and 23.
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