Bhubaneswar: The BJD today announced candidates for nine MLA seats while inter-changed two earlier announced candidates.
The party has nominated Naveen Patnaik for Kantabanji, Laxmipriya Nayak for Chitrakonda, sitting MLA Barsha Singh Bariha for Padampur, Rajendra Chhatria for Kuchinda, Arundhati Kumari Devi (Deogarh), Sanjukta Singh (Angul), Dillip Kumar Nayak (Nimapara), Sulkhnsa Gitanajali Devi (Sanakhemundi), Indira Nanda (Jeypore),
The party has dropped four sitting MLAs– Samir Ranjan Dash (Nimapara), Rajanikanta Singh (Angul), Purna Chandra Baka (Chitrakonda) and Kishore Chandra Naik (Kuchinda).
In place of Rajanikanta Singh, the party has nominated his wife Sanjukta for Angul. Similarly, the party has nominated senior BJD leader and ex-Minister Rabi Nanda’s wife Indira for Jeypore MLA seat in Koraput seat.
Similarly, five newly joined BJD leaders have got party tickets. They are– Arundhati Devi (Deogarh), Dillip Kumar Nayak (Nimapara), Rajendra Kumar Chhatria (Kuchinda) and Laxmipriya Nayak (Chitrakonda).
Shri Patnaik also nominated S Gitanajali Devi, daughter of former MLA Nandini Devi in Sanakhemundi assembly segment.
In its 5th MLA nominee list, the party has announced six women candidates, they are Laxmipriya Nayak (Chitrakonda), Barsa Singh Bariha (Padampur), Arundhati Devi (Deogarh), Sanjukta Singh (Angul), Sulkhnsa Gitanajali Devi (Sanakhemundi) and Dr Indira Nanda (Jeypore).
The BJD has inter-changed two MLA nominees. They are Rohit Pujari (Sambalpur) and Prasanna Acharya (Rairakhol). As Shri Acharya had expressed displeasure before the party high-command about his nomination from Sambalpur, the BJD has changed him to Rairakhol.