Odisha Polls: Will Soumya Patnaik Accept BJP Ticket For Ghasipura Assembly Seat?

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik on Tuesday said the BJP had proposed him to contest from Ghasipura Assembly constituency in Keonjhar district but did not say about his decision.

Speaking to media persons after offering puja at Maa Tarini temple in Ghatagaon, Patnaik said he was grateful to his supporters who wanted him to participate in the ensuing elections. “The wishes and blessings of the people are most precious gift to me. With elections round the corner, there are expectations, doubts and also fear in a section of people,” he said.

Stating that several parties were suggesting him to participate in the electoral politics, he said though BJD had suspended him from the party for anti-party activities, it had not announced the candidate for Khandapara Assembly constituency from where he had won the elections in 2019 by securing highest number of votes.

“The BJP has proposed me to contest from Ghasipure Assembly seats. Besides, the local people have been meeting me regularly and pressurising me to contest in the elections,” Patnaik said.

He also did not rule out accepting the BJP proposal as he said he had not joined any party after being ousted from BJD but wondered why the ruling party had not announced its candidate for his constituency.