Naveen hails federal front

Odisha Chief Minister and ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president, Naveen Patnaik, on Thursday said that the proposed non-Congress and non-BJP federal front was a good alternative for the country.

“It is still early for discussions about the proposed federal front. But it is a good thing for the country. Let us see what happens in the future,” Patnaik said, during an informal chat with newspersons here, soon after his arrival from New Delhi.

 Patnaik, along with other senior leaders of the party, was in the national capital for the party’s “Swabhiman” rally held on Wednesday, to put pressure on the Union government to grant special category status to the eastern state.

BJD sources said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who are both possible members of the proposed federal front, congratulated Patnaik for organizing the rally in New Delhi.