Modi praises Naveen for cyclone handling

Bhubaneswar, May 6 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday praised Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for effectively handling cyclone Fani, which hit the coastal districts on May 3.

"Naveen babu has done good planning. The central government will support and carry forward the initiatives," Modi told reporters here.

The Chief Minister was standing next to Modi while the latter was speaking to the media. Patnaik also accompanied the Prime Minister on the aerial survey to assess the situation.

Modi held a review meeting of the relief and restoration work with Patnaik and senior officials of the state government and the Centre.

"I must congratulate the state government, the authorities and those involved in evacuations. The work done is commendable. There has been a good coordination between the Centre and the state," said the Prime Minister.

Modi's praise for Naveen Patnaik came days after bitter electoral fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in the Lok Sabha polls.

Political observers feel that Modi is trying to reach out to Naveen Patnaik for post poll alliance at the Centre.

The BJD was a former ally of NDA government at the Centre.

Claiming that no national party would get a majority, the Chief Minister had already maintained that the regional party would play a key role in formation of the next government at the Centre.

Odisha faced simultaneous polls for 21 Lok Sabha and 146 Assembly seats in four phases. Election to Patkura Assembly segment is scheduled to be held on May 19.