Odisha Elections News Updates

In its eight list, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced the names of candidates for the three pending Lok Sabha seats in Odisha.

The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is trying its level best to retain its Kantamal seat this time. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have also started firing on all cylinders to capture the conch part’s fort. 

Two prominent cine stars and BJD leaders -- Kendrapara MP Anubhav Mohanty and former Korei MLA Akash Das Nayak- quit the party On Saturday. Ollywood star Arindam Roy had earlier left the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Two-time Berhampur MP Sidhant Mohapatra followed the suit two days ago.

The actor-turned-political today resigned from the primary membership of BJD. Mohanty has submitted his resignation to party president and CM Naveen Patnaik.

"I hereby tender my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress," read Biswal's resignation letter.

In a video statement, the actor-turned-politician said, "Today after listening to my inner voice, for self-respect and the respect of Korei residents, I have decided to quit BJD."

Soon after quitting the BJD, Mishra joined BJP at the party headquarter in Bhubaneswar in presence of BJP’s Odisha Election In-Charge Vijaypal Singh Tomar, State party president Manmohan Samal and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi.

Odisha Soochana Adhikar Abhiyan (OSAA) convenor, Prakash Das alleged that on average Rs 3 crore per year has been spent for BJD leader VK Pandian's security over the last five years. 

At a meeting held at Chhatrapur in Ganjam, Panigrahi trained his gun at the BJD-led government and said some influential government officers are acting like ruling party’s workers.

Odisha Pradesh Mahila Congress president, Meenakshi Bahinipati in a press conference said if the Congress is voted to power they would waive off loans of women members of self help groups.

Anjani will lock horns with BJP’s Naba Charan Majhi and BJD’s Sudam Marndi. Interestingly, Marndi was once at the helm of the affairs as far as the functioning of JMM in Odisha is concerned.

The choice of candidates in Puri, Cuttack and Kendrapara too must have caused greater celebration in the BJP camp than among the BJD cadres in these constituencies.

On March 24, the BJP announced the list of candidates for 18 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha.

It is pertinent to mention here that Behera was in Congress and later joined the BJP in 2019. Though he contested the polls in 2019 on BJP, he lost.

In his letter to BJD president, Naveen Patnaik, former MLA & BJD leader Dambaru Sisha said he wants a fresh start to meet the aspirations of his people and workers.