The Biju Janata Dal, BJD has decided to abstain from voting in the ensuing vice-presidential election. This was disclosed by Odisha Chief Minister and BJD President Naveen Patnaik in Bhubaneshwar yesterday after consultations with party MPs and senior leaders.

Mr Patnaik said, the BJD will neither support Congress-led UPA candiate Hamid Ansari nor BJP-led NDA nominee Jaswant Singh.

The BJD has 14 Lok Sabha and 7 Rajya Sabha members. One of the Rajya Sabha members Pyari Mohan Mohapatra has been suspended from the party.