BHUBANESWAR: Meetings with former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa during his Chennai trip have stirred speculation on Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s move for the presidential polls. The meeting Naveen had with Jayalalithaa triggered speculation of a possible realignment between non-UPA and non-NDA parties with speculation rife about the emergence of a third alternative before the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The two leaders met over lunch at Jayalalithaa’s Poes Garden residence and reportedly discussed presidential polls and the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). However, Jayalalithaa said later that presidential election issue did not figure at the meeting. ‘’If we had discussed anything like that, we would have told you about it”, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister told mediapersons after the brief meeting.“There was a natural synergy between myself and Biju Patnaikji.... Biju Patnaik left behind a legacy of respect, cooperation and mutual affection. This legacy is reflected in the bond that I continue to share with Naveen Patnaikji”, the AIADMK supremo said.“Biju Patnaikji was like a father figure to me and Naveen Patnaik is my brother”, she said, reflecting the warmth between the two leaders. In his remarks, Naveen said Jayalalithaa was a “long-standing family friend”. The BJD leader recalled his father describing Jayalalithaa as an “excellent administrator”.Even though Naveen has not made anything public about the BJD’s role in the presidential polls, his move seems to give credence to speculations that he wants to play a crucial role in the entire exercise.Naveen said after meeting Jayalalithaa that no decision has yet been taken on the presidential polls. But speculation ran wild after the meeting between Naveen and Gopalkrishna Gandhi, chairman of the Kalakshetra Foundation, last night. This was the second meeting between Naveen and Gopalkrishna in the last 15 days. With 21 MPs (14 Lok Sabha members and 7 Rajya Sabha members) and 104 MLAs, the BJD is going to play a crucial role in the presidential polls. Sources said that as the two major political parties, Congress and BJP, do not have the numbers, the non-Congress and non-BJP political parties may join hands to float a name.The two-day Chennai trip of Naveen seems to be crucial in this context. However, Naveen has so far kept the cards close to his chest. Sources maintained that he is not going to take a stand before candidates are announced. After returning from a seven-day visit to New Delhi on May 8, Naveen had said that he will discuss the issue with senior leaders, MPs and MLAs before taking a decision.
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