Race For RS: Manoj Nayak Clears The Air, Says No Question Of Entering Politics

Bhubaneswar: Putting to rest speculation about his possible candidature in the ensuing Rajya Sabha polls, founder of Siksha O Anusandhan (SOA) Deemed to be University Manojranjan Nayak on Thursday said he has no interest in politics.

“I have no interest of joining politics. I never had any such inclination and do not have any such plans,” Nayak told Odisha Bytes. “If I had any such intent, I could have joined politics much earlier,” he added, terming speculation in a section of the media and social media that he would contest the March 26 Rajya Sabha elections as “baseless”, “false” and “figments of their imagination”. Nayak said his only objective was to ensure a bright career for the students of SOA University and better healthcare to patients in SUM Hospital here.

Nayak also owns leading Odia daily Prameya and Odia television channel News7.

Discussions about Nayak’s possible entry into politics started about a week back when Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shared the dais at the inaugural function of SUM Ultimate Medicare (SUMUM), a multi-superspeciality hospital established here by SOA Union on February 29 here. The presence of leaders of the rival parties and possibility of BJD and BJP agreeing for a ‘consensus’ candidate for one of the four RS seats up for grabs triggered speculation of Nayak entering the fray.