Former Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and chief minister Naveen Patnaik at Naveen Nivas in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, April 24: When two old friends meet and have “a good lunch”, it is time for others to chew on a leathery topic called presidential polls.

Former Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi today had a luncheon meeting with Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik here. The two share many a common interest and the meeting would not have drawn much attention but for the theories that have started flying around the presidential polls in July.

In such a season, any “apolitical” person is considered a possible choice or contender. So it would have been an injustice to Gandhi, the grandson of the Mahatma and the governor who did not hesitate to express “cold horror” when 14 people were killed in Nandigram, had his name not been tossed into the cauldron that is certain to boil for some days now.

Those who keep track of such matters noted with quiet satisfaction that Vice-President Hamid Ansari, “another possible contender” for President, had also visited Bhubaneswar about a month ago for the convocation of the Utkal University.

Today’s meeting at Naveen Nivas, which lasted more than an hour, was described as a “courtesy” visit by the Odisha chief minister. “I have known Dr Gandhi for quite sometime now. I have known him since the days I was not in politics. Since he happened to be in Bhubaneswar, I invited him for lunch. There was no discussion regarding the presidential elections,” said Naveen.

Gandhi described the Odisha chief minister as an old and valuable friend. “We had a very good lunch,” said Gandhi, who is scheduled to take part in the 7th convocation of the North Odisha University in Mayurbhanj district tomorrow.

Naveen and Gandhi have known each other for quite sometime. They both studied in Delhi, though they were not contemporaries. Gandhi, a former IAS officer who has written some books, is also a friend of Naveen’s elder sister and author, Geeta Mehta.

Sources said that apart from their shared interest in writing, Naveen, who has authored a few books, and Gandhi moved in the same social circuit in Delhi.

Notwithstanding their statements today, some leaders pointed out that the ruling Biju Janata Dal with its 104 MLAs and 23 MPs, including one who has won with its support, can play a crucial role in deciding the next occupant of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

“We can play a crucial role in the presidential polls since we have 23 members in Parliament. However, the party will take the final call on the candidate that we will vote for,” said Rajya Sabha member Baishnab Charan Parida.