Bhubaneswar: The BJD will continue its policy of maintaining equal distance from the Narendra Modi-led Union government and the Congress in Parliament's monsoon session that begins on Wednesday.

Although the BJD president and chief minister Naveen Patnaik is yet hold his customary meeting with his MPs for the monsoon session, the party has decided to sharpen its attack on the Centre on issues pertaining to the state's interest.

At the same time, they will not be part of the Congress-led Opposition, BJD sources made it clear on Tuesday. "We know our party's stand. The president may call the meeting at any time," said an MP even as the BJD on Tuesday deputed two of its senior leaders - Bhartruhari Mahatab and Prasanna Acharya - to attend an all-party meet convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Acharya also attended a meeting convened by Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu.

Acharya said: "We have made it clear to the Prime Minister that it's the responsibility of the government to run Parliament. The Opposition should be given space and time to raise various issues. Any attempt to stifle the voice of the Opposition will not be tolerated."

Stating that the party would follow the policy of equal distance from the BJP and the Congress, Acharya said: "Besides the special category state status, the other major issues such as Mahanadi and Polavaram will be raised as they concern interest of the state. Odisha must get its due." The state has been demanding special category state status for several years. It has also been seeking greater flexibility to design and implement programmes suited to its specific needs within the broad development objectives set at the national level.

The BJD will also take the opportunity to target the BJP at the Centre for its partisan attitude on Mahanadi that is now a major poll plank for Naveen's party.

"This is our lifeline. We are not doing politics on the issue. We want that our concerns should be addressed," he said.

BJD MP Kalikesh Singh Deo said: "We will also raise the issue of Polavaram. The chief minister has already urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately direct authorities concerned to stop construction of the Polavaram project until all the pending issues are finally settled in the Supreme Court."

Odisha is critical of the way the ministry of environment, forest and climate has allowed construction of the project and demands that it should be reformulated as Godavari Water Dispute Tribunal award without causing large-scale submergence in Odisha, Telengana and Chhattisgarh.

The BJD also decided to target the Centre on the issue of minimum support price (MSP) of paddy. The state is demanding that the MSP of paddy should be 1.5 times the cost of production.

The BJD will also take up frequent rise of price of petroleum products and subsequent inflation.