The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Odisha): Naveen Patnaik, the Chief Minister of Odisha and president of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), has declared his intention to contest from two assembly constituencies in the upcoming elections. Patnaik will run from Kantabanji in Bolangir district of Western Odisha, in addition to his traditional Hinjili seat in Ganjam district.
This announcement was part of Patnaik’s unveiling of the fifth list of BJD candidates, which includes nine contenders for the assembly polls. This strategy mirrors his approach in the 2019 elections, where he was elected from both Hinjili and Bijepur. He later resigned from the Bijepur seat to retain Hinjili.
The new list of candidates features a diverse group, including six women and four individuals who recently joined BJD from other parties. Four sitting MLAs were not renominated: Purna Chandra Baka from Chitrakonda, Kishore Chandra Naik from Kuchinda, Rajnikant Singh from Angul, and Samir Ranjan Dash from Nimapara.
In a notable shift, Rajnikant Singh’s wife, Sanjukta Singh, has been nominated for the Angul seat, and former minister Rabi Nanda’s wife, Dr. Indira Nanda, will contest from Jeypore in Koraput district. Additionally, S Gitanajali Devi, daughter of former MLA Nandini Devi, is the candidate for the Sanakhemundi assembly segment.
Patnaik’s list also includes strategic changes, with Rairakhol MLA Rohit Pujari being moved to contest in Sambalpur, while Prasanna Acharya will run from Rairakhol. With these announcements, BJD has now named candidates for 126 of Odisha’s 147 assembly segments.