Odisha Elections: After Denial Of BJD Ticket, Raghunandan Says His Supporters May Hold Nimapara Like Rally In Balikuda

Bhubaneswar: BJD leader and former Odisha Minister Raghunandan Das, who was denied party ticket for Balikuda-Erasama Assembly seat, on Monday said he would decide future steps after gauging reaction of the people of his area.

In its 7th list of candidates released on Monday, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) dropped Das while nominating Sarada P Jena from Balikuda-Erasama Assembly constituency in Jagatsinghpur district.

Stating that he was not upset over denial of ticket, Das said he would speak to people as well as party workers in the constituency before deciding his future course of action.

The former Minister said that the party appeared to have decided to drop him after getting misleading information about his ill health as he had undergone kidney transplant a year ago.

BJD president and Chief Miniter Naveen Patnaik was probably given an impression that an anti-incumbency mood had cropped up in the constituency when he was unwell, he said. “However, I am in proper shape now. My health condition is perfectly alright,” Das said.

Noting that Jena had switched over from Congress to BJD during the last elections, Das express doubts whether people of the constituency and party workers in the area will accept him.

“Whether the party nominee will be accepted by the people is a big question. Let us wait and watch. The mood of the people will be reflected in the final result,” the ex-Minister said.

On approaching the party leadership for reconsideration of the decision, Das said he would first assess the mood of the people and their reaction. If the people of the constituency decide, a large gathering of supporters may also be organised as seen in Nimapara where Samir Ranjan Dash was denied BJD ticket, he said.

Notably, a large number of supporters of Samir Dash took out a massive rally on Saturday, demanding reconsideration of the decision to deny him ticket. They also threatened to launch an agitation if Dash was denied ticket.