Former Minister and three-time BJD MLA from Hindol constituency, Anjali Behera is going to contest the upcoming three-tier Panchayat elections. She filed her nomination papers on Friday for the post of samiti member of Giridhar Prasad Panchayat Samiti in Dhenkanal district.
Behera was a two-time former Minister and held important portfolios like Handloom and Women's and Child Development of the State government.
She said she is contesting for the samiti member post to get closer to the people in the grassroots.
"A politician should contest elections often. Contesting for the post of samiti member will give me an opportunity to get closer to the people in the grassroots and strengthen the organisational capacity," said Behera.
"Though the election is not the only way to get closer to the people, it provides great opportunity to work for the people with renewed vigour," she said.
The BJD had suspended Anjali in 2014 for allegedly involving in anti-party activities. She did not get the party ticket and BJD nominated Seemarani Nayak for the seat. Later, she joined BJP in presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and BJP State unit President Samir Mohanty.
(Edited by Ramakant Biswas)