Bhubaneswar: With Congress changing its candidates in three Assembly seats in Odisha, former Indian hockey captain Prabodh Tirkey on Monday expressed shock over the grand old party dropping him as its nominee for Talasara constituency.
Prabodh had been nominated by Congress as its candidate for Talasara Assembly seat in Sundargarh district. However, in the second list of 75 candidates released by the party on Sunday, Prabodh was replaced with Debendra Bhitaria.
Apart from Prabodh, Congress has changed its candidates in two other Assembly constituencies. While Surada Pradhan has been replaced with Upendra Pradhan in Baliguda Assembly seat, Chiranjib Bosoi has been replaced with Bipin Bihari Swain in Kabusuryanagar constituency.
Prabodh, who had joined Congress in September 2023, expressed shock at the party’s decision to drop him. “I have no idea as to why I have been dropped by the party. I will speak to senior leaders and find out the reason,” he said.
On the other hand, Bhitaria expressed happiness on being chosen as Congress candidate in Talasara Assembly seat and said he would reach out to the people to win their support.
The 39-year-old former hockey star, who led the country to victory in the 2007 Asia Cup championship, said that he would speak to the top leaders of Congress to ascertain the reason behind the move to replace him as candidate in Talasara.
Stating that he was already campaigning in the constituency, Prabodh said he would speak to OPCC president Sarat Pattanayak and AICC Odisha in-charge Ajoy Kumar and others before commenting on the development.
Political observers are of the view that Congress has selected experienced and senior leaders while giving opportunity to the young generation in the selection of candidates. Besides nominating former state Congress presidents Niranjan Patnaik and Jaydev Jena, the grand old party has picked sons and daughters of senior leaders.
In Aul Assembly seat, Congress has fielded Debasmita Sharma, daughter of former MLA Debendra Sharma. Similarly, Ripunath Seth’s son Abhishek Seth has bagged the party ticket for Attabira Assembly constituency.
Likewise, former Chief Minister late J B Patnaik’s son Pruthvi Ballav Patnaik has been nominated for Begunia Assembly seat, while Sushmita Singhdeo, wife of K P Singhdeo’s nephew, has been fielded in Dhenkanal Assembly segment.
This apart, turncoats have also been rewarded with Congress tickets. Former Minister Jugal Kishore Patnaik’s son Asit Patnaik has been fielded in Bhadrak. After being denied BJD ticket in 2019 as well as 2024, Asit had quit the ruling party and joined Congress recently.
Similarly, former MLA Sudarshan Jena, who quit BJD and joined Congress recently, has been nominated from Remuna Assembly seat.
