New Delhi, Sept. 9 -- On the eve of the vice presidential election, former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and former Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) on Monday announced to abstain from the key poll on Tuesday.

Though the decision of the two parties, which have in the past supported the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on key legislations in Parliament, might not have a bearing on the poll outcome, it will likely dent the NDA's prospects of increasing the victory margin.

"Biju Janata Dal has decided to abstain from the vice presidential elections tomorrow. The Biju Janata Dal remains equidistant from both the NDA and INDIA alliances. We are focused on the developmen...