Bhubaneswar: As Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is busy finalising its candidates for the upcoming elections for Odisha, speculations are rife that the saffron party may change its nominee for Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha constituency.
As per information, BJP is unlikely to re-nominate Bishweswar Tudu, who is now a Union Minister. for the tribal constituency this time. Among the probable BJP candidates, the name of
President Droupadi Murmu’s daughter Itishree Murmu happens to be the most prominent.
While sources claimed that top BJP leadership is seriously planning to field 35-year-old Itishree from the tribal-dominated constituency, senior leaders are yet to comment on the matter.
Notably, Itishree has always been accompanying her mother Droupadi Murmu during her Odisha visits since she assumed the top office. Her candidature is likely to send out a positive signal ahead of the elections. Itishree’s presence in the poll battle is expected to give a special message to BJP leaders and workers as well as voters in the state.
As per 2011 census, tribal communities constitute over 22 per cent of the state’s population. Odisha has a significant population of tribals after Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. BJP has already demonstrated its commitment towards the empowerment of tribals by sending Droupadi Murmu to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
In 2019 elections, BJP candidate Bishweswar Tudu had defeated Biju Janata Dal (BJD) nominee Debashis Marndi by a margin of 25,256 votes.
