Denied BJP Tickets, 2 Aspirants To Go Independent In Odisha Elections

Bhubaneswar: Ticket aspirants in BJP have raised the banner of revolt after being denied ticket for the upcoming elections in Odisha.

Former MP Kharabela Swain and four-time MLA Debasis Nayak on Friday announced that they would file nominations as independent from Balasore parliamentary constituency and Bari Assembly seat, respectively.

Earlier in the day, the BJP declared Santosh Khatua as its candidate from Nilagiri, quashing Swain’s hope to get a MP ticket from Balasore. He had proposed the central leadership to shift its Balasore MP candidate Pratap Sarangi to Nilagiri and field him from the LS seat instead.

“I am the real BJP, hence people will vote for him,” asserted the three-time MP from Balasore.

When asked about likely action against him if he contests as an independent, he added that he will join the BJP again after winning the polls.

Also Read: Santosh Khatua In Poll Fray Again From Nilagiri But On BJP Ticket

Debasis, who had quit BJD and joined the BJP in February, posted his decision to contest as an independent on social media a day after the BJP nominated Umesh Chandra Jena from Bari. Umesh had contested from Bari on Congress ticket in 2019.

Also Read: Trouble For BJD As Anubhav Patnaik Files Nomination As Independent In Khandapada

“People of Bari are my strength. Party is not paramount for me. I will contest the poll to serve them,” wrote the former Bari MLA, who had won the seat for four consecutive terms from 2000 to 2014 on BJD ticket.