Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik for BJD's support to NDA candidate. (PTI photo)

BHUBANESWAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday dialed BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik to thank him for his party's support to NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh in the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman elections , official sources said.

The support of BJD's nine MPs gave the ruling coalition a clear edge to win the election for the prestigious position with 125 votes.

Naveen Patnaik had earlier announced his party's support for Singh after PM Modi and Nitish Kumar had requested him for the same. BJP president Amit Shah and Union home minister Rajnath Singh had also requested Patnaik's support.

State Congress president Niranjan Patnaik on Friday slammed BJD for having supported the NDA nominee in the Rajya Sabha deputy chairman race.

"The games of BJD and BJP have been totally exposed. Sad that BJD has chosen to ally with BJP, a party which has betrayed Odisha on every front, including Mahanadi," Niranjan told journalists.

In an unusual offer, Patnaik here on Friday urged Dharmendra Pradhan and Jual Oram, the two union ministers from Odisha, to quit BJP and join the grand old party.

"I urge both the leaders to join the Congress if they want to serve the people of Odisha. Congress is the only credible opposition in Odisha," Niranjan told media persons here. Niranjan, however, did not explain when asked about his motive of inviting Pradhan and Oram to Congress.

"I also urge Baijayant Panda to join Congress," Niranjan said. Reacting to the offer, Panda tweeted "Now, whatever you say about Odisha's PCC (Pradesh Congress committee) president, you can't say he lacks chutzpah."

While Pradhan and Oram were unavailable for comments, BJP leaders here said that the Congress state chief has been terribly disturbed over the defeat of Congress nominee BK Hariprasad in the Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson election on Thursday.

BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra hit out at Patnaik saying there was no basis in his claim as the party has already clarified its stand behind its move to support the NDA nominee.

