Only CM Naveen’s ticket is confirmed in BJD, says Pranab Prakash Das

Amidst the hectic parleys ahead of the crucial 2024 elections, efforts are on within the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) to put to rest all the speculations and discussions regarding party tickets.

At a closed-door meeting held at Sambalpur on Thursday, BJD’s organisational secretary, Pranab Prakash Das said that only CM Naveen Patnaik’s ticket is confirmed in BJD and everything else depends on his discretion. Such statements were made by Das during the meeting, informed Millan Hota, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal president of the Sambalpur zone.

It is speculated that Das’ statements were aimed at silencing the ongoing discussion between the MLAs and Ministers regarding party tickets. Even the organisational secretary had asked everyone to switch off mobile phones when he was addressing the meeting yesterday.

“It was a closed-door meeting. Our organisational secretary said that CM Naveen Patnaik is our party president. Who will get a ticket and who will not, it is his discretion. Only the CM’s ticket is confirmed in all the Assembly constituencies in the state. It is only CM’s decision who will get a ticket and depends on whom he gives a chance,” said Hota.