Kharabela Swain’s U-Turn, Says He Won’t Contest As Independent From Balasore; BJP Still On Sticky Wicket

Bhubaneswar: Days after raising a banner of revolt against the party for being denied a ticket from Balasore Lok Sabha constituency, BJP leader Kharabela Swain on Monday retracted his statement on contesting as an independent in the upcoming elections in Odisha.

The 3-time MP had made the announcement a day after the BJP renominated its incumbent MP in the seat Pratap Sarangi. He, however, is yet to withdraw his claim over a ticket for the seat.

Addressing a presser, Swain instead suggested some changes to the BJP’s Lok Sabha candidates list. “Since I have successfully contested from Balasore thrice, I would request the party to make me the MP candidate and shift Pratap Nana to Kandhamal Lok Sabha seat if he is keen to contest from a parliamentary constituency,” he said in an apparent softening of stance.

Taking about party’s nominee from Kandhamal, Sukanta Kumar Panigrahy, Swain said that he had contested from the seat in 2014 general elections and could garner only 1 lakh votes. “He had finished third in the polls and also lost his deposit. He was also third among candidates from Daspalla Assembly seat. Despite being fielded from the seat at the 11th hour, I could win over 3 lakh votes in 2019 elections from Kandhamal,” he said.

The BJP leader further Pratap Sarangi can give a tough fight to BJD candidate, Achyuta Samanta, who is battling anti-incumbency factor, in Kandhamal. “I will campaign for him and the Modi wave will help him win the election,” he said.

Swain said Pratap Sarangi can also opt for Nilagiri Assembly seat since the sitting MLA Sukanta Kumar Nayak has quit the saffron party and joined the BJD. “As it under Balasore parliamentary constituency, I will do my best to ensure his win if I am given the MP ticket from Balasore,” he said.

The BJP leader added that it will be win-win situation for both him and Sarangi.

He said that he is keen to go to Delhi and is not in the race for CM in Odisha. “I am the only candidate from Odisha to have fought eight elections. I could not say no to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when I asked me to contest from Kandhamal in the last elections. Why should I travel 500 km and contest from there again?” he asked.

Swain asserted that filing of nominations for the Balasore seat is slated for May 7 and he will wait till then for the party to make changes to the list, accommodating his suggestion. “This is not a condition but a suggestion to ensure BJP’s victory in both Balasore and Kandhamal,” he added.