Bhubaneswar: A day after being nominated as Congress candidate for the upcoming Assembly polls in Odisha, former Chief Minister J B Patnaik’s son Pruthvi Ballav on Monday said he is optimistic of achieving his maiden electoral victory.
As per the second list of 75 Assembly candidates released by Congress on Sunday, Pruthvi Ballav Patnaik will contest from Begunia, the same constituency which his late father had represented.
Stressing that the people of Begunia and Bolagarh have shown tremendous enthusiasm over his electoral debut, Pruthvi said people in the area have extended their support wholeheartedly.
“We have been working at the grassroots level in the constituency and visiting the area extensively for the last over three years and our organisational base is quite strong now,” he said.
Stating that people of the constituency are extending overwhelming support during his door-to-door visits, Prithvi said that Congress position is much stronger than that of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Begunia.
Prithvi said that he decided against contesting the elections in 2019 despite having bagged Congress ticket as his base in the area was not very strong. “However, this time I am in a position to fight as we have built a strong organisation in the constituency. We can give a tough fight at the hustings and emerge victorious this time,” he asserted.
“We are better placed. Moreover, BJD and BJP are yet to declare their candidates for the Assembly seat. We will perform well and win the election with people’s support,” he claimed.
Stating that he had applied online for party ticket, he said that Congress subsequently conducted a survey and finalised his candidature after thorough assessment.
Claiming that people of Begunia are very unhappy with both BJD and BJP due to their attitude towards the constituency, Prithvi said both the parties gave a wrong signal by entering into a prolonged exercise for forging an electoral alliance.
“People are now very angry over the manner in which these two political parties are functioning,” he said, adding that the people are also unhappy with the elected representatives of the area who never visit the area except during elections.
Noting that his father has contributed immensely towards the development of the area, Prithvi said, “people of the area still remember and respect him (JB Patnaik). People of the area know it well that we have always been with them and will continue to remain and work for them. All these will definitely go in my favour.”
