Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Manas Ranjan Mangaraj has been appointed the ruling party’s observer of Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency in Odisha, in a significant move ahead of the the twin polls due next year.
BJD president Naveen Patnaik, who is also Odisha Chief Minister, has appointed Mangaraj as party’s observer for Sambalpur parliamentary constituency, BJD Organisational Secretary Pranab Prakash Das said in a release.
Mangaraj’s appointment assumes significance as it comes amid speculation that BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan would contest the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections from Sambalpur.
This comes close on the heels of the BJD and the BJP turning the heat on each other, especially after the saffron party’s own Assembly polls in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
While the BJP has of late started attacking BJD leader and 5T chairman V K Pandian, the latter earlier this week took an indirect dig at Dharmendra during a visit to Angul by questioning his contribution to Odisha as central minister.
Speaking on his new assignment, Mangaraj said he has always discharged all tasks assigned by the BJD president sincerely. He thanked Naveen, 5T chairman V K Pandian and Pranab Prakash Das for giving him the responsibility of Sambalpur along with Berhampur parliamentary constituency.
Stating that he would discharge the new duty with dedication, Mangaraj said that BJD would emerge stronger in the run up to the upcoming elections.
Apart from giving new charge to Mangaraj, the BJD president has appointed Soubhagya Nayak as the observer for Sambalpur and Rengali Assembly constituency.
This apart, Goutam Budha Das was made BJD observer for Deogarh district, while Amaresh Jena was appointed as the party observer for Boudh district, the release said.
