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A J Javeed:Sir, in view of this split up, who, in your view, will be forming next goverment at the centre - UPA , NDA or Third front ?

Jay Panda: asdasd

Lalit Mohan Pattnaik:Well Mr Jay Panda, as you are popularly known, do you plan to induct more professionals in your party so as to effectvely quicken the process of work implementation of Industries in Orissa,

Jay Panda: asdad

siddharth:What roles do regional parties like yours expect to play at the Centre?

Jay Panda: We will play a balanced role at the centre. while standing up for Orissa's interests (it really has been neglected and exploited for long, just check on spending on issues like education, railways etc), we will also stand for a strong national government as we have so far.

reeti srivastava:dont you think BJD is way too over confident about its winning prospects?

Jay Panda: No, our views are backed up by repeated surveys and also recent statewide urban election results, it was in fact teh BJP who continued to be way too overconfident and made huge demands.

Naveen:Is it really true that Kandamal violence has reduced BJP's popularity among Orissa voters and is that why you split with them?

Jay Panda: The fact is that the BJP has done poorly in recent elections throughout the state (including in Kandhamal). The BJD, on the other had has done superbly. The problem arose with the BJP refusing to acknowledge this reality and continuing to make incredulous claims about their winnability in a large number of seats.

naren:Is BJD a ideological party or opportunistic party?

Jay Panda: The BJD stands for a vibrant Orissa and also a progressive, pragmatic India.

Roger:Dear Sir. Do you think the Only party to gain from the BJD-BJP split is Congress.

Jay Panda: No, the Congress is discredited in Orissa and people are disenchanted with it. The recent urban elections have proven that even in triangular contests (ie no alliance between BJP-BJD), people very strongly prefer Naveen Patnaik and the BJD (thw thirds majority in most cases). These recent elections are a barometer of the public mood.

Sahoo, L K :How many seats BJD is expecting in the coming assembly and LS election ?

Jay Panda: We are likely to win a large majority on our own, equal to or close to a two thirds majority. Plus, there will a few seat sharing arrangements with some other parties.

Rajesh Mishra:Dear JAYANT Babu, How do u think a alliance with left will help you for the betterment of new Industries in Orissa

Jay Panda: we are talking about a few seat sharing issues with some parties, including the left. i expect that the bjd will have a majority on its own, which will enable Naveen Patnaik to continue providing the kind of progressive, transparent and popular government that he has been so far.

uniquesuvaj:As a oriya i feel proud to have a efficiet and honest CM like Navin Patnaik.However BJD's association with the third front makes me feel uneasy before casting a vote for BJD.the third front consists of opportunist and unreliable parties like CPM which are directionless .i would never like to see persons like mayawati as primeminister.I still hope BJP and BJD will forget their ego and differences for the intrest of the country.do you feel it is possible now?

Jay Panda: there has been no commitment to join the third front, only an open approach to a few seat sharing arrangements for the upcoming election. We have a track record of progressive, pragmatic politics at both the centre and in the state, we will continue in the same vein.

sambit pattanayak:sir.yesterday in CNN-IBN poll showed that the 3rd front isn't good for india(only 15% people accepted it), as it formed for only some politician's personal interest and if BJD is going towards 3rd front, the image of naveen patnaik will hamper in orissa?

Jay Panda: we will cross that bridge when we come to it. as of now, we are only discussing seat sharing arrangements with a few parties for the coming election. we will review the situation at the centre and do what is right for the country and for orissa.

Lalit Mohan Pattnaik:How do you forsee the future of Orissa's development plan after 09 election

Jay Panda: orissa has already had a huge turnaround. for the first time in many centuries, its GDP growth rate has now exceeded the national average (not my figures, but government of india's and the world bank's), this has made possible many state level development projects (again, for the first time in decades). after the 09 election, the BJD will ensure that this trajectory is maintained and improved.

Buboo:If the present government loses the Trust Vote on 11.03.2009, then what will be its repurcussions on the oncoming elections?

Jay Panda: that is a highly unlikely situation, since more than a majority of mla's have given signed statements to the governor already. but if it were to happen, there would be a huge sympathy vote in favour of the BJD and naveen patnaik.

Shirish Chaudhry:Last night, when Chandan Mitra said BJP will be willing to do business with Navin Patnaik in future, it evoked a taunting chuckle from you! You should be appreciative that inspite of your party having stabbed BJP in the back in a most unethical manner and at an unopportune time, they are still open to working with you in future. Then why this mocking at someone's sincerety, more so when you may need them in future?

Jay Panda: I wasnt being taunting, only chuckling at the irony of it. There is no question of betrayal, after all they were fully prepared for it and were able to mobilise their mla's to raj bhavan in 45 minutes to withdraw support and demand president's rule. in fact it would have been a betrayal of the people of Orissa if we had agreed to the BJP's absurd demand to contest unwinnable seats (by them), since that would have ensured the sabotage of the alliance and would have allowed other forces to govern orissa.

Debarshi Dasgupta:Hi, do you think working with parties like NCP will be a problem -considering its headed by Bijay Mohaptra

Jay Panda: I dont think so, after all the BJD is a far bigger party in Orissa and will be contesting far more seats. any seat sharing with other parties will not have a very major impact, we should be able to have a majority on our own.

naren:Apart from seat sharing, how would you rate BJP as an ally?

Jay Panda: we had no problems with the BJP at the centre, but the state unit of the BJP always found it hard to accept Naveen Patnaik's popularity. there were many instances of backbiting and undermining of the alliance.

deeps:dont you think people of orrisa will forgive you for your bitrayal.you might end up like devegowda in karnataka after same betrayel ?

Jay Panda: There is no question of betrayal. Our primary responsibility as a regional party is to the people of Orissa, who have been long neglected by the centre. The objective was to form a government in Orissa and protect orissa's interest in Parliament, but that simply could not have been achieved with the alliance since the BJP insisted on contesting far more seats than it could win.

sai aditya:Mr Panda dont you feel that after your break up with the BJP , your chances of winning the assembly polls has Declined ?

Jay Panda: No, it has not, please refer to some other questions i have already answered in this chat.

Prashanth Joishy:Mr Panda, In your Interview to CNN-IBN on 09.03.09 you had informed that, you have been in touch with the BJP Top brass for the last four months about the seat sharing and your demands, but non have given proper attention to you. But Mr.Navin Pattnaik in his address to the press on 07.03.2009,after meeting the Governer of Orissa had said that, the discussion regarding the seat sharing has taken place only after the disolution of the Parliment. why contradictory statement ? Does there is a dissident in BJD in this regard ?

Jay Panda: There is no contradiction. even before the seat sharing talks started, it was obvious that the state unit of the BJP was taking a public and inflexible stand about seats, which was not in line with their actual performance. Many were already apprehensive that this would prove to be the undoing of the alliance. i repeatedly mentioned this to senior BJP leaders in Delhi, hoping they would intervene in time and control the process before it spun out of control

Suhas A R:What is your view about L K Advani and his abilities as a leader?

Jay Panda: Advaniji has had a long and illustrious career, and no one can question his integrity or nationalistic credentials.

A J Javeed:Dear Mr.Jay PAnda,did you fear that BJP is outgrowing BJD?

Jay Panda: Actually, the problem is exactly the opposite. The alliance was struck 11 years ago, when Naveen Patnaik had just founded the BJD and Vajpayee ji was at his peak. in these years, the BJD has grown hugely, while the BJP has declined. apart from surveys, recently there were urban elections across the state, where WITHOUT an alliance we won two thirds majority in most places. The BJP refused to recognise these realities and insisted on contesting a large of of seats where it was sure to lose.

Ashish Dube:Mr. Panda dont you think that the right time to break up with BJP was after Kandhamal Voilence rather than now .

Jay Panda: to control the Kandhamal violence, the state government cracked down hard on all trouble makers, irrespective of their religion or background. many of the arrested belonged to organisations like the bajrang dal, and subsequently the bjp participated in protests against the government. However, naveen patnaik made it abundantly clear that none of that would affect governance, and it didnt. that being the case, there was no real need to break the alliance. alliances are all about winnability and seat sharing, and that is what the recent discussions were all about

Subodh Deshpande:what is the road map designed to handel undemocractic movements in orissa

Jay Panda: the answer must lie in democratic methods. the great strength of the BJD lies in CM Naveen Patmaik's popularity with the masses, which gives Orissa the strength to bring about positive change. of course, when it comes to armed movements like naxalism, the state needs to follow a carrot and stick policy, where its developmental activities continue side by side with strong law and order measures.

Buboo:How does Jay Panda, the businessman,view the BJP-BJD split?

Jay Panda: i have been in active politics for several years and have been too focused on these issues to be able to give a business perspective anymore. however, i can tell you that Orissa's recent high rating in surveys re investment climate will continue to be favourable

umeshdas:Dear Mr. jay panda, In the wake of your party having a pre-poll alliance with CPI / CPI(M) does this signal the end of POSCO in it's present form in Orissa? This question comes because of a statement by Mr. Narayan Reddy, the CPI MLA from Orissa where he says that 'At last Naveenbabu realised that Posco is not needed for the people'

Jay Panda: i wouldnt get carried away by the rhetoric, obviously different parties and politicians have their positions, but the BJD has always had a clear stand on balanced development, where it welcomes investment in Orissa, but at the same time puts a high priority on rehabilitation of affected people. we will continue the same philosophy.

Swathi:Is the BJP-BJD Split a bad view to you ?

Jay Panda:

Chat Master

Jay Panda

BJD MP, Lok Sabha

Jay Panda, BJD MP from Kendrapara, is considered to be one of the most trusted political advisers of the Orissa Chief Minister and party chief Naveen Pattnaik. A graduate from Michigan, USA, with a combined degree in Engineering and Management, Panda worked with the CII, FICCI and the International Chromium Development Association before joining politics.