BJP Fishing For Dissidents, Says BJD On Candidate List Delay

Bhubaneswar: The ruling BJD on Wednesday criticised the BJP over delay in announcement of its candidates’ list for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, even saying that they were looking for dissidents from other parties.

“The saffron party is yet to announce the list of its candidates, while the last date for filing nomination papers for the first and second phase of polls is scheduled for March 25 and 26 respectively,” BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said. “The party has made tall claims about a 120 plus mission, but is still looking for candidates. It is instead trying to rope in dissident leaders from other parties.”

He also criticised the Congress. “The Congress, which talks of giving priority to women candidates, has announced the name of only one woman candidate in its first list of candidates,” Patra said.

Reacting to Patra’s statement, vice-president of the BJP’s state unit, Sameer Mohanty, said the BJD should take care of its own, as several dissident leaders have left the party and more leaders are going to join other parties. “The BJP is going along with its strategy and will announce its candidates’ list very soon,” he said.