Dharmendra, Aparajita & Manmath File Nominations Amid Road Show, Paika Sword Dance & Scooter Rally

Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, former Union Minister Jual Oram and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi were among the prominent candidates who filed their nomination papers on Thursday.

Dharmendra, who is contesting a direct election after a gap of 15 year, filed his nomination for Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat at Sambalpur collectorate.

Earlier in the day, he held a massive road show in Sambalpur city after offering prayers at Samaleswari temple. “The blessings of Maa Samaleswari is with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP will win 21 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha…” he told reporters. 

Meanwhile, Khurda collectorate witnessed a minor skirmish among supporters of Aparajita and BJD MP candidate Manmath Routray as they resorted to intense sloganeering during the filing of nomination.  

Aparajita headed to the collectorate after offering prayers at Maa Bhuasuni temple at Jalna. Her women supporters also took out a scooter rally from Baramunda ground to Khurda. “With the blessings of Lord Jagannath and Lord Lingaraj, I am again in the poll fray. I am also thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for reposing faith in me. This is a fight of the people of the constituency. With all humility but with confidence, I would like to say that the people will remain ‘Aparajit’ (unbeaten) this time,” she said punning on her name.

Manmath, on the other hand, arrived at the collectorate riding a bullock cart and blowing conch. “I am a son of Paika (soldier) and bullock car is its symbol. I am overwhelmed to see the crowd accompanying me to collectorate. I am confident of a landmark victory in the elections,” he told reporters.

Veteran leader and Jatni MLA Suresh Routray, who has been expelled from Congress, was seen performing traditional sword dance while accompanying his son Manmath for filing of the nomination.

Senior BJP leader and five-time MP Jual Oram also filed his papers at Sundargarh collectorate. He is seeking re-election from Sundargarh LS seat and is pitted against BJD’s Dilip Tirkey, who submitted his nomination papers on April 30.

While Sundargarh will vote on May 20, Sambalpur and Bhubaneswar will go to polls on May 25.