Rajya Sabha Polls: Three BJD Candidates File Nomination Papers

Bhubaneswar:  The three candidates of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD)—Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Achyut Samant and Prasant Nanda—on Friday filed their nomination papers for the ensuing Rajya Sabha polls scheduled on March 23.

The three candidates filed their nomination papers in the presence of BJD supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Parliamentary Affairs minister Bikram Keshari Aruku and Returning Officer at the office chamber the Returning Officer Rajesh Prabhakar Patil at the State Assembly here.

“I am sure that the three candidates would strongly put up the issues of Odisha in the Upper House,” the Chief Minister told media persons later.

On the special category status to Odisha, Naveen said “We had earlier raised our demand and will continue to do so till our demands are met by the Centre.”

Replying to a question on the criticism for his joining the BJD who he had criticized earlier, Soumya Ranjan said he always welcomes the critics. “Criticism makes the attitude of a person clean.

Asked as to how he would continue his relentless fight for Odia language, he said one cannot make Odia language universal. “To make Odia language universal, a concerted effort has to be made,” he pointed out.

To a question whether he would criticise the BJD on certain issues he was doing earlier, Patnaik said he will bring to the notice of the party supremo if any such thing comes to his notice. “But there is a certain way to criticize,” he observed.

In his statement, Achyut Samant said he will discharge his duty as per the decision of his party. “We will raise major issues of our state in the Upper House,” he added.

“We will sharpen the voice of Odisha in the Rajya Sabha and strongly present all its major issues,” Prasant Nanda said.

The three candidates had formally joined the BJD in the presence of the Chief Minister on February 7. Hours after their joining, the chief minister picked them as the party candidates for the ensuing Rajya Sabha elections.