Odisha’s Senior Cong Leader Narasingha Mishra Sticks To Decision, Not To Contest Assembly Polls

Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s veteran Congress leader Narasingha Mishra on Tuesday stuck to his earlier announcement and made it clear that he would not contest the upcoming Assembly elections.

Speaking to the media in Bhubaneswar, Mishra said he has taken the final decision of not contesting in the Assembly elections. He said his youngest son Samarendra, who had contested the Lok Sabha elections last time, would be in the fray from Balangir Assembly constituency.

Stating that he has informed the AICC about his decision, the veteran Congress leader and MLA from Balangir said a final decision on Samarendra’s candidature would be taken by the party.

Mishra said five party workers’ meets were held recently in the area and all are in favour of Samarendra contesting the Assembly polls from Balangir. However, the AICC would take the final decision.

Regarding Lok Sabha elections, the senior leader said that search is on for suitable candidates for different parliamentary constituencies in the state.

Earlier in October 2023, the MLA from Balangir had stated that he would not be contesting the Assembly elections this time.

However, he said he would actively support the Congress in election activities including campaigning for its candidates in the district.

Samarendra, who had contested as Congress candidate from Balangir in Lok Sabha elections in 2019, is a member of All India Congress Committee (AICC).