'BJD-BJP alliance not opportunistic'

The ruling BJD today sharply reacted to the Congress charge that it has formed an 'opportunistic and unholy alliance' with a 'communal party' saying Orissa did not experience any communal flare up during the BJD-BJP rule in the last four years.

AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh, who levelled the charge, was rejected in Madhya Pradesh and the people in Orissa would not give any credence to his words, BJD General Secretary Narendra Swain told newsmen here.

He said BJD had committed to the people before the last Assembly polls that it would form a coalition government with BJP and accordingly the alliance government led by Naveen Patnaik was formed.

''We had a joint manifesto. But Congress which is leading a poll alliance this time, is having separate manifesto. This shows which party is practising opportunistic politics,'' he said.

Rejecting the Congress allegation that Orissa's progress was halted during the BJD-BJP rule, he said the state's economy has improved and the alliance government has not indulged in corruption.