The selection of a candidate for Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat by the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is surely going to be interesting to watch as the city’s first Mayor Mihir Mohanty has set his eye on a party ticket with already another leader Shreemayee Mishra in the ticket race.
With the 2024 General Elections round the corner, ticket aspirants are now queuing up at Naveen Niwas, the official residence of CM and BJD president Naveen Patnaik to lobby for party tickets. Fresh in the line is Mihir Mohanty who is vying for the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat.
It is pertinent to mention here that Mohanty has entered the ticket race at a time when BJD’s Shreemayee Mishra is already on the ground and has started visiting the Parliamentary Constituency, gathering public support for her candidature.
Speaking to reporters, Mohanty said, “I am hopeful of a BJD ticket because life is based on hope. I am an aspirant for the Bhubaneswar Parliamentary Constituency. I have submitted my application mentioning why I should be preferred. BJD needs a good candidate who can take the fight to the enemy’s camp.”
Asked about Shreemayee Mishra, Mohanty said, “I cannot say anything about her. She is like a younger sister to me. She is campaigning in Bhubaneswar. I cannot say what impact it will have on voters. But I think I can give a better fight than in the coming election than others.”
In 2019, the BJP took away the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat from the ruling BJD. BJP candidate Aparajita Sarangi won the election with a margin of 13839 votes by defeating BJD’s nominee Arup Patnaik.
On the other hand, current BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi is sure to contest again. It is believed that there is no other aspirant to be the BJP MP candidate here. She has already started a public relations campaign in the field.
Meanwhile, MLA ticket aspirants for Bhubaneswar Ekamra and Madhya Assembly Constituencies continue to make a beeline at the Naveen Niwas. The ticket aspirants have started displaying their strength by holding rallies and meetings with their supporters amid fears of exodus.
BJD corporators- Amaresh Jena and Biranchi Mahasupakar have submitted their biodatas at the Naveen Niwas today.
“Everybody who is doing politics tries to move ahead in their career. I have been with the Chhatra BJD, Youth BJD and have been with the people. Naveen Babu trusts youths because he knows youths are the future. They will work for the party all the time,” said Amaresh Jena while submitting his biodata for a BJD ticket from Bhubaneswar Madhya MLA seat.