Raipur/Bhubaneswar: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has nominated Purandar Mishra, a well-known social leader from Odisha, as its candidate in ensuing Assembly election in Chhattisgarh.
Mishra, who is the founder chairman of Lord Jagannath Temple at Raipur, will contest from Raipur City North Assembly seat. He is the only Odia candidate from any national party to contest in Chhattisgarh Assembly poll.
Gayatri Nagar, where Mishra has founded the largest Jagannath Temple of Chhattisgarh, comes under his constituency.
Recently, Mishra was unanimously elected as president of Greater Odia Samaj in Chhattisgarh. The Samaj has been formed with representatives of 24 associations representing 35 lakh Odias living in the state. At present, Mishra also holds the post of chief patron of Chhattisgarh branch of World Odisha Society.
The Odia community across Chhattisgarh has welcomed the nomination of Mishra as BJP candidate in the Assembly election.
