Union Railway Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday filed his nomination papers for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
Vaishnaw submitted his nomination papers to the returning officer at the Odisha Legislative Assembly in the presence of Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal, other senior leaders, and 10 proposers.
Following the filing of nominations, Vaishnaw said, “I thank my party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving me another chance to serve the State of Odisha from Rajya Sabha. I pray before Lord Jagannath that he gives me more energy and motivation to serve Odisha even better. I will work uninterruptedly like the squirrel of Lord Ram and will not cease to work until Odisha becomes a developed State as envisioned by PM Modi.
Vaishnaw is the third candidate to file his nomination for the Rajya Sabha elections to be held for three seats in Odisha.
Debashish Samantaray and Subhasish Khuntia have already submitted their nominations for the Upper House of the Parliament as Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) candidates.
Vaishnaw will be serving his second term in the Upper House if elected.
The ruling BJD has announced support for the candidature of Vaishnaw.
“Biju Janata Dal will support the candidature of Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Union Minister, Railways, Communication and Technology for the larger interest of State’s Railways and Telecom Development in the ensuing election to Rajya Sabha-2024,” read an official statement released by the BJD.
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However, none from the BJD was present as the proposer during Vaishnaw’s nomination filing today.
Vaishnaw reached Odisha on a two-day visit on Wednesday. Speaking on his candidature for the Rajya Sabha election, Vaishnaw had said, “I am a disciplined worker of Bharatiya Janata Party. The party takes all decisions of my public life. I am grateful to PM Narendra Modi for giving me the opportunity to serve again.”