Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD and the main opposition BJP are likely to announce their third list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Vidha Sabha elections in Odisha, on Friday.
According to sources, the saffron party may release names for the remaining three parliamentary seats with Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, who join the BJP in Delhi the previous day, almost certain of getting a party ticket from the same constituency. Kandhamal and Jajpur are the other seats, where the party, is yet to announce its candidates.
Speculation is rife that actor-turned-politican Sidhant Mohapatra, who was inducted into the saffron fold along with Bhartruhari, may be fielded from Kandhamal or given an Assembly ticket either from Digapahandi or Berhampur seat.
Sidhant was elected twice from Berhampur Lok Sabha seat on BJD ticket. The party, however, has nominated Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahi from the seat this time.
The BJP is also expected to announce its candidates for around 100 Assembly constituencies, the sources added.
On Thursday, State party president Manmohan Samal accompanied by state party’s organising general secretary Manas Mohanty flew to New Delhi to hold discussion with central leaders on finalisation of party candidates for Odisha.
The BJD, which has already released names of 15 MP and 72 MLA candidates, may announce candidates for almost all the remaining seats. The regional party named candidates for nine parliamentary and 72 Assembly seats in its first list and released the second list with 6 MP candidates on March 27.
The party is yet to announce candidates for Bhadrak, Balangir, Jharsuguda, Balasore, Keonjhar, and Berhampur Lok Sabha constituencies. It is still unclear whether the Naveen Patnaik-led party will repeat Chandrasekhar Sahu or make Manas Mangaraj a surprise candidate. It had deferred the announcement on the party nominee after BJP announced Pradeep Panigrahi as its candidate from the seat.
Political configurations in Ganjam appear to have turned extremely complex following party hopping by leaders, rebellion by some sections and discontent among workers. The ruling party is apparently finding it tough to identify a seasoned leader from Berhampur Lok Sabha constituency except Ramesh Chandra Chyayupatnaik.
MP Candidates Announced So Far
Puri: Arup Patnaik
Dhenkanal: Abinash Samal
Jagatsinghpur: Rajashree Mallik
Kandhamal: Achyuta Samanta
Cuttack: Santrupt Mishra
Jajpur: Sarmistha Sethi
Kalahandi: Lambodar Nial
Sambalpur: Pranab Prakash Das
Sundargarh: Dilip Tirkey
Mayurbhanj: Sudam Marndi
Kendrapada: Ansuman Mohanty
Nabarangpur: Pradeep Majhi
Bhubaneswar: Manmath Routray
Koraput: Kaushya Hikaka
Aska: Ranjita Sahu
