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Bhubaneswar: Politicos including some heavyweights of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in coastal Odisha are keeping their fingers crossed, as party’s final list of candidates involving their respective regions is yet to be announced which would determine their fate in the upcoming general election.
BJD supremo and chief minister Naveen Patnaik has kept everyone guessing on the ‘high profile’ list which includes Lok Sabha constituencies like Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Keonjhar and Bhubaneswar, and 15 such Assembly segments.
The party is yet to announce its candidates for 36 assembly segments including Kendrapara, Rajnagar, Patkura, Tirtol, Kakatpur, Ghasipura, Champua, Anandpur, Paradip, Korei, Sukinda, Dhamnagar, Bhadrak and Basta.
Though the alleged dowry torture case filed by his daughter-in-law Barsa Sony Choudhury, cost former law minister Raghunath Mohanty dear last year as he was dropped from the ministry, political observers feel he has a strong base of supporters to claim party ticket.
While Mohanty, a five-time legislator from Basta assembly constituency in Balasore district is expecting a BJD nomination this time too, higher education minister Badri Narayan Patra is too willing to retain the Ghasipura assembly ticket in Keonjhar district.
“I think the CM wants more discussion with party leaders before declaring the names. I am sure there is no issue in the constituency, and hope it will be declared soon,” Patra told media persons today while coming out of Naveen Niwas.
Similarly, the ruling party is in a fix over its nominee for Paradip and Jagatsingpur assembly segments. The sitting MLA of the port town and BJD vice-president Dr Damodar Rout is though among the frontrunners for a party ticket, BJD insiders say this time it is doubtful for Jagatsingpur sitting legislator Bishnu Das.
The political equation taking party’s LS candidature for the coastal district has also changed following MP Bibhu Tarai’s (CPI) joining in Congress few days back. Now, nominating a candidate for the Lower House of the parliament with strong winnability has been a daunting task for the ruling party.
In 2009, CPI had a seat-sharing arrangement with BJD and Tarai had won.
“Party organisation at the grassroots level is very strong and as far as candidate’s name is concerned Naveen will take the final call,” Bishnu Das said.
But, according to Rout the party is yet to discuss on the matter.
“No discussion has so far taken place for the district. I hope within a day or two it will be declared,” he stated.
For Jajpur and Bhadrak districts, suspense still prevails over BJD’s candidates in four assembly constituencies.
The fate of former finance minister Prafulla Ghadei, the sitting MLA from Sukinda in Jajpur district hangs in balance as he is still ‘uncertain’ about his ticket in the ensuing polls. Similarly, party sources said, BJD is undecided about his son and Korei MLA Priranjan Ghadei’s nomination.
