Mon Sep 08 09:47:30 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Odisha’s main opposition party, has announced it will abstain from voting in the upcoming Vice-Presidential elections on September 9, 2025. The decision, made by BJD President Naveen Patnaik after consulting with party leaders, is based on the BJD’s policy of maintaining equal distance from both the NDA (led by the BJP) and the INDIA bloc (led by Congress) at the national level. The party’s focus remains on the development of Odisha. The NDA candidate is C.P. Radhakrishnan, while the INDIA bloc’s candidate is B. Sudershan Reddy.

**News Article:**

**BJD to Abstain from Vice-Presidential Elections, Citing Neutral Stance**

**Bhubaneswar, September 8, 2025** – The Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Odisha’s principal opposition party, has announced its decision to abstain from voting in the Vice-Presidential elections scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The announcement was made today by BJD MP Sasmit Patra in Bhubaneswar.

According to Mr. Patra, the decision, made by BJD President and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after consultations with senior party leaders and members of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), aligns with the party’s long-standing policy of maintaining equal distance from both the NDA (National Democratic Alliance) and the INDIA bloc.

“The BJD maintains an equal distance from both the NDA and the INDIA bloc,” Mr. Patra stated. “Our entire focus is on the development of the state and its 4.5 crore people.”

The Vice-Presidential race pits C.P. Radhakrishnan, the current Maharashtra Governor and former Coimbatore MP representing the NDA, against B. Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge chosen as the Opposition’s candidate.

The BJD’s abstention underscores the party’s commitment to prioritizing regional development and its independent political stance at the national level. The decision is likely to be closely watched by political analysts as it could signal a shift in national alliances in the future.

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