'CM support is a welcome gesture'

Initially there was some confusion regarding Vaishnab's candidature as both BJP and BJD had announced his name. "I think there was some confusion regarding Vaishnab's candidature," Naveen clarified while extending his party's support to him. "Vaishnab has served Odisha well," he added.
"I feel honoured with the trust reposed on me. I am thankful to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Naveen Patnaik for the same," Vaishnab said.
Naveen's support to Vaishnab is the latest in a series of actions that speak of growing bonhomie between the BJD and BJP, who were partners in the state from 2000 to 2009.
Naveen has recently backed Modi's call for 'one nation, one election' idea. In the days after Cyclone Fani struck Odisha, Modi had lauded Naveen's handling of the situation.
"The constructive support by Naveen in the interest of Odisha's people is a welcome gesture," BJP state vice-president Sameer Mohanty said.
Among the BJD Rajya Sabha candidates, Amar is a former Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS) officer who had earlier served as the principal accountant general of Odisha as well as Kerala and West Bengal. In August 2018 he left his government service to join BJD.