After the announcement of Varsha Priyadarshini’s name as the BJD candidate for the Barchana Assembly seat, its incumbent MLA Amar Satpathy’s supporters raised a red flag, demanding reconsideration of the decision to cancel their leader's candidature.
Hundreds of Satpathy’s supporters on Saturday assembled at his residence in Bhubaneswar to show their solidarity and express displeasure over him being denied a ticket.
The six-time MLA’s supporters even urged the Chief Minister to give a ticket to him.
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When asked, Satpathy said he is entirely in the dark as to why his name has been dropped.
“It is his (Chief Minister) decision. So he can say why I have been dropped. There is no question of switching over to any other party. I am in BJD and working for it,” said Satpathy.
Earlier in the day, former Minister and Nimapara MLA Samir Dash, who has also been denied a ticket this time, demonstrated his strength by organising a massive rally in Nimapara. His supporters too demanded Dash’s name should be reconsidered