BJP announces candidates for two by-elections in Odisha

BUBANESWAR/KENDRAPADA: The BJP on Sunday announced candidates for the two by-elections scheduled in the state on November 3, for which nomination filing process has already been started.
Manas Kumar Dutta, son of former MLA Madan Mohan Dutta, whose death has necessitated the by-elections, will be the party candidate in Balasore sadar seat while in Tirtol, the saffron party has fielded Rajkishore Behera, who recently switched side to BJP by deserting Congress.
Retaining the Balasore seat that had gone to BJP in 2019 assembly elections, has now become a matter of prestige for the party as it is also the bastion of Union minister Pratap Sarangi. The saffron party has planned to bank on the sympathy factor by fielding Manas from the seat, even as sources said Sarangi was not in favour of Manas’s candidature.
“I express my gratitude to our national president JP Nadda, state president Samir Mohanty and two Union ministers for reposing their faith on me. People of Balasore had blessed my father in the last assembly election, who had undertaken a number of development works. I will continue to work for all-round development of Balasore and strive to fulfill my father’s dream,” said Manas.
The 29-year old, who has been working for the party for the last a few years, also expressed confidence of winning.
The BJP that had secured second position in Tirtol in the last assembly elections has eyed to wrest the seat from the ruling BJD this time by fielding Behera, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2009 and 2014 assembly election from the seat on Congress ticket but gained substantial vote share. Tirtol, a seat reserved for scheduled caste (SC) candidate, is a traditional BJD bastion.
Sources said Behera, a lawyer, had joined BJP last week by quitting Congress after getting ticket assurance. Meanwhile, Ramakant Bhoi, who had contested the 2019 assembly election on BJP ticket and secured over 53,500 votes, has resigned from the party after Behera’s entry.
“People will bless the BJP in the forthcoming by-election as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken a number of development works for all sections. Though people of our constituency have backed BJD for several years, it has failed on all fronts. Voters will give a befitting reply,” said Behera.
BJP leaders, in-charge of the two by-elections, are confident of their victory even as results will hardly make any impact on numbers in the state assembly.
Candidate selection process of two other major parties– ruling BJD and opposition Congress– is also at the final stage though they are yet to announce the names. Sources in the BJD and Congress said announcements will be made in a day or two.
The CPI on Sunday decided to field young face Bijay Kumar Bhoi from Tirtol, who is expected to file his nomination papers on Tuesday.

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