Balasore, Jan 15: Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw will not contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Odisha's Balasore.
Vaishnaw on Sunday made it clear that he would not contest from Balasore Lok Sabha seat, during his visit to Balasore for a review of the ongoing development works.
"I will not contest as we have Pratap Nana (Balasore MP Pratap Sarangi is fondly called Pratap Nana) here”, said the Union Minister.
His statement cleared the air amid speculations about his candidature from Balasore or Cuttack Lok Sabha seats.
Political speculations are rife that Vaishnaw may contest from Balasore or Cuttack Parliamentary seats as the former bureaucrat had served both districts as a collector and earned a good reputation.
His frequent visits to Balasore after the Bahanaga train mishap had triggered speculations about his candidature from the Lok Sabha seat.
Later, his name surfaced for Cuttack Lok Sabha seat during his visit to the district last week where he attended party programmes in Athagarh, Baramba, Narsinghpur and Banki.
Vaishnaw launched a series of projects in Balasore district during his two-day visit on Saturday and Sunday.
