Ashwini Vaishnaw Rules Out Contesting LS Polls From Odisha’s Balasore; Speculation About Cuttack Rife

Balasore: Amid speculations that he may contest the upcoming Lok Sabha election as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Odisha’s Balasore, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has virtually ruled out fighting from this constituency.

The Railway Minister stated this while responding to queries from media persons during his visit to Balasore, He said he is not going to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Balasore.

To a question about the possibility of his contesting from Balasore, Vaishnaw said sitting MP from Balasore and former Union Minister Pratap Sarangi is there to fight from the constituency.

“No .. We have Pratap Nana here,” the BJP leader said.

There have been speculations that BJP may field Vaishnaw either from Balasore or Cuttack for the coming Lok Sabha elections. With the Union Minister ruling out contesting from Balasore, political observers are of the opinion that he may be fielded by the BJP from Cuttack seat.

During his visit to Balasore, Vaishnaw took stock of the ongoing development work at Balasore railway station.

The Mnister said he has also asked the DRM to use correct spelling for the railway station and write ‘Baleswar’ instead of ‘Balasore’.

Vaishnaw also visited Jhadheshwar Shiv temple along with Pratap Sarangi and offered prayers.

The Railway Minister also donated a life support ambulance to Balasore District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) and visited AIIMS Satellite Hospital.