In the run up to the crucial 2024 elections in Odisha, several leaders from BJP, BJD and Congress switched camps, either after being denied tickets or due to other reasons.
Out of the total 21 Lok Sabha seats, Cuttack seat holds much significance. The battle for Cuttack Lok Sabha segment is also interesting with one of the BJD’s founding members- Bhartruhari Mahtab snapping ties, joining BJP and being roped in by the saffron party as its candidate for the prestigious seat.
The BJD, on the other hand, has fielded Santrupt Misra. He will be testing electoral politics for the first time after resigning as HR head of Aditya Birla Group.
Here’s a quick look on the profile of the candidates:
Bhartruhari Mahtab, BJP
A founding member of BJD, Bhartruhari Mahtab is a six-time MP from Cuttack Lok Sabha seat. In the last elections, Mahtab had defeated BJP’s Prakash Mishra with a significant margin.
However, Mahtab changed sides for the 2024 battle after his terms with BJD got entangled in controversies after the seasoned leader was apparently felt being sidelined.
Mahtab is the son of former Odisha CM Harekrushna Mahtab.
Bhartruhari was even BJD’s floor leader between 2014 to 2019. He was also awarded with the prestigious ‘Sansad Ratna’ for four times for his performance in Parliamentary debates.
Santrupt Misra, BJD
HR head of Aditya Birla Group, Santrupt Mishra had joined the BJD in the month of February this year. It was in 2022, when Misra had taken Voluntary Retirement.
Suresh Mohapatra, Congress
The Congress has this time roped in one of its senior leaders- Suresh Mohapatra for the Cuttack Lok Sabha seat.