Bhubaneswar: After-effects of the Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson's election are still being felt in Odisha with Union petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday taking a dig at the BJD, which supported NDA candidate Harivansh Narayan Singh for not allowing an Odia to be elected to the high office.

In an oblique reference to BJD Rajya Sabha member Prasanna Acharya's name having been discussed for the post ahead of the election, who is widely perceived to be BJP's chief ministerial candidate in 2019,<> sought to know why an Odia was not made the candidate.

"The people who are saying we supported this person and that person should explain why did not they support an Odia. There must have been some compulsion," said the Union minister without mentioning the BJD, whose MPs had voted for Singh following requests from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar chief minister and JDU president Nitish Kumar.

Soon after his arrival here from Delhi on Sunday, Pradhan, who in the wake of the NDA candidate's election had thanked the BJD, sought to throw a smokescreen on the behind-the-scenes politics that had led Naveen's party to support JDU MP Harivansh Narayan Singh.

"Who requested whom (for support) and who went to whom is known to the people," he said indicating that BJD should not expect any leniency from his party ahead of the 2019 polls.

Union human resources development minister Prakash Javadekar, who arrived here Sunday, appeared to supplement Pradhan.

"Parties decide their strategies in Parliament and vote accordingly. However, here in Odisha, we are the main Opposition party and we will win," he said. While acknowledging the support of BJD and some other parties in the election of Harivansh Narayan Singh, the minister sought to make it clear that Naveen's party was not an ally of the NDA.

Javadekar, who will take part in BJP's organisational programmes during his stay, justified the target of 120-plus Assembly seats set for the state by party chief Amit Shah.

"This target is right for Odisha. The people here want change," he said.

BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra, however, slammed Pradhan, and described his statement about an Odia not being made the candidate for Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson's office as misleading.

"There was never any talk about this. What he is saying only betrays his frustration," said Patra, adding that the BJD had decided to vote for the JDU MP Harivansh Narayan Singh and maintain its policy of equi-distance from both Congress and BJP.

State Congress president, Niranjan Patnaik continued his attack on chief minister Naveen Patnaik for asking his party MPs to support the NDA candidate in the Rajya Sabha deputy chairperson's election. He posted a video on his Twitter handle showing the growing camaraderie between Naveen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the comment: "Time and again, BJP and BJD have proven to be best friends. Reminds me of that famous song, but with a twist - Ye dosti hum nahi todenge, todenge Odisha magar, tera saath na chorrenge."