New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: Leader of the Opposition in Odisha Naveen Patnaik, who is on a four-day tour to Delhi, on Monday visited an art exhibition titled, ‘Voyages: The Ancient Maritime Silk Route’ at the India Habitat Centre here.

“The exhibition curated by noted art curator Jaya Mani draws inspiration from connecting threads of art and culture between coastal regions of South Asia, Odisha and other coastal states. Thank noted mural artist Suresh Muthukulam and textile artist Gunjan Jain for showcasing this fine ensemble which sails through centuries of art, culture and rich handloom traditions to weave history across shores and relive our glorious seafaring heritage,” Naveen posted on X about his experience.

Jain’s works woven by master weavers in Odisha specially assembled handlooms along with Muthukulam’s Kerala mural art explores the two Indian states – Odisha and Kerala – and their cultural similarities with Southeast Asia. The artists have chosen the oceans as their drawing board and sea creatures, both mythical and real, as well as ocean plant life and sea-farers as their subjects.

“This show, curated by Jaya Mani, promises to be a visual voyage,” said Jain.

Earlier in a post on X, Naveen said that he is in New Delhi for some days for some social commitments. The visit came amidst suspense over the BJD’s stand on the vice-presidential election on September 9.

The party’s seven Rajya Sabha members will abstain from voting in the election. “The Biju Janata Dal remains equidistant from both the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) alliances. We are focused on the development and welfare of Odisha and 4.5 crore people of Odisha”, BJD’s Rajya Sabha leader Sasmit Patra said on Monday.

The regional party had abstained in the 2012 VP polls, choosing neither NDA’s Jaswant Singh nor UPA’s Hamid Ansari. In 2017, it carefully balanced its stand by supporting NDA’s Ram Nath Kovind for President and UPA’s Gopalakrishna Gandhi for Vice President, thereby maintaining equal distance from both national alliances. In 2022, it backed both NDA nominees–Droupadi Murmu and Jagdeep Dhankhar for President and Vice President, respectively