Lalitendu or Upasana? Who will be BJP's pick for Brahmagiri seat? 

The political atmosphere is gradually warming up in the Brahmagiri Assembly constituency of Puri. Speculations are rife over who will be the BJP's pick for the Brahmagiri seat – incumbent MLA Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra or his niece Upasana Mohapatra? 

As per reports, former Brahmagiri MLA and senior BJD leader Sanjay Dasburma is keen on the Satyabadi constituency, which has triggered infighting with incumbent MLA Uma Samantaray there. 

So in Brahmagiri, all eyes are now on the BJP. For the past several months, Upasana Mohapatra has been taking part in meetings and visiting people in Brahmagiri, once represented by her late father Lulu Mohapatra prior to Sanjay Dasburma.

Amid such speculations, Upasana however said, “Announcement of tickets for nominees is not done by any leader or individual. It is the BJP Parliamentary Board that will decide who will fight polls from where. That too, a decision is taken on the basis of a survey. We will accept whichever decision seems right.”

She also added that a lot of development has taken place in the segment under the leadership of her uncle Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and the streak of development will be carried forward in the days to come.  

Also Read | Will Bipin Pradhan join BJP if denied BJD ticket? Viral video indicates so

As for rival Dasburma's chances of contesting from the Bramhagiri seat, Upasana said, “We are hardly concerned about whoever comes or goes out or whoever is in front of us. We are looking after our organisation and want to work for our people. We are born in Bramhagiri and will stay in this soil.”

Signaling her focus on Brahmagiri, Upasasana also stated, “Let the decision of the party leadership and direction from the party’s Parliamentary board come. You have seen Upasana in Brahmagiri in the past and will see her in days to come.”