Even though the Election Commission of India (ECI) has sounded the bugle for the crucial 2024 elections in Odisha, major political parties including BJD, BJP, and Congress are yet to announce candidates for several Assembly seats in the state.
As per reports, the ruling BJD is yet to announce its candidates for the 12 seats out of the total 147 Assembly constituencies in Odisha. Similarly, the BJP has not opened its cards for 16 Assembly seats and the Congress has not named candidates for 9 Assembly seats in the state.
On Saturday, the Congress announced the names of candidates for 3 Lok Sabha seats and 16 Assembly seats in Odisha. Prior to Congress, the BJD had also announced its sixth phase list of candidates yesterday.
The ruling BJD is yet to name its candidates for the Raghunathpalli, Hindol, Khandapada, Begunia, Khordha, Bangiriposhi, Bhograi, Nilagiri, Bari, Korei, Balikuda-Ersama and Kakatpur assembly seats.
The BJP's undeclared Assembly seats include- Jeypore, Telkoi, Ghasipura, Champua, Hindol, Barabati-Cuttack, Begunia, Khordha, Basta, Nilagiri, Bhandaripokhari, Basudevpur, Bari, Salepur and Kendrapara.
The Congress is yet to name its candidates for the Chhatrapur, Palahara, Barabati-Cuttack, Jaleswar, Balasore Sadar, Nilagiri, Barchana, Jagatsinghpur and Kakatpur Assembly seats.
If we look at the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, the BJP and BJD have announced candidates for all the seats. However, the Congress is yet to annouce its candidates for two Lok Sabha seats- Cuttack and Mayurbhanj.