Amid peak electioneering fever in Odisha, severel political leaders including BJP's Bhartruhari Mahtab, Priyadarshi Mishra, Jayanarayan Mishra, Prashant Jagdev and BJD's Ashok Panda and Chandra Sarathi Behera filed their nominations for different Lok Sabha and Assembly seats on Friday for the upcoming General Elections in Odisha.
'A fight to protect Odia Asmita'
Six-time Parliamentarian and BJP leader Mahtab filed his nomination for the Cuttack Lok Sabha seat at Cuttack Sub-Collector's office today. Mahtab will try his luck for the seventh time in the third phase of the election to be held on May 25 in the seat. He will face tough contest from BJD's Santrupta Mishhra who also filed his nomination today.
"BJP candidates will win Assembly and Lok Sabha seats by a good margin. It will be a fight to protect Odia 'Asmita'," said Mahtab after filing the nomination.
"We are confident that BJD will win the election and form government in the State this time also," said Mishra.
'Congress has people's blessings'
Congress leader Mohammed Moquim’s daughter debutant Sofia Firdous filed her nomination from Barabati-Cuttack Assembly seat today. She reached at Cuttack Sub-Collector's office in a rally along with her father and supporters and filed the nomination papers.
"People have blessings for Congress. I am confident that they will vote in favour of our party and make it victorious in the upcoming election," said Firdous.
Former Minister and BJD leader Chandra Sarathi Behera filed his nominations from Cuttack Sadar.
"I am sure that people will vote in favour of BJD and our party will come off with flying colours," said Behera.
Bhubaneswar Sub Collector office comes alive
Many leaders also filed their nominations in Bhubaneswar. Former MLA and BJP candidate Priyadarshi Mishra filed his nominations from Bhubaneswar North. BJP candidate Babu Singh also filed his nomination at the Sub Collector's office from Bhubaneswar Ekamra seat after having darshan of Lord Lingaraj. He will be up against BJD's Ashok Panda who also filed his nomination after coming to the Sub-Collector's office in a huge rally.
"I am committed to fulfilling the incomplete work in my constituency. I am sure that people will bless me," said Mishra.
"People have already made up their mind to vote for BJP in Bhubaneswar Ekamra constituency," said Singh.
"We are committed to transforming Odisha into an empowered, developed State as per the vision of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik," said Panda.
Apart from Cuttack and Bhubaneswar, BJP candidate Ananta Nayak filed his nomination for Keonjhar Lok Sabha seat by reaching the Sub-Collector office along with Union Minister Faggan Singh Kulaste. Congress leader Jaydev Jena also filed his nomination for Anandpur Assembly seat.
BJP candidate Prithviraj Harichandan filed his nomination for Chilika Assembly constituency. Harichandan reached the Collector's office in a huge rally with his supporters from Khordha New Bus Stand and filed his nomination papers. Similarly, BJP MLA candidate Prashant Jagdev filed his nomination at the Sub-Collector's office from Khorda Assembly seat.
"The fight will be between development and destruction and all the people of Chilika are eager to witness it. Lots of developmental works will be undertaken in the constituency in the next five years," said Harichandan.
"We will fight for the identity and pride of Odisha and Khordha," said Jagdev.