Bhubaneswar, March 2 The political landscape in Nuapada assembly seat is indeed heating up as the election draws near.
Basant Kumar Panda, the incumbent MP from Kalahandi, is once again in the spotlight. Rumours suggest that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might field him as the MLA candidate for Nuapada assembly seat. Panda was elected as BJP nominee in 2000 and 2014 from this seat.
However, there’s a twist: Basant Panda is reportedly interested in contesting the parliamentary election from Kalahandi. His lobbying efforts are underway in New Delhi.
If Basant Panda doesn’t become the BJP candidate in Nuapada, the party has other options, including Prasanna Padhi (state executive member), Yadumani Panigrahi, or NAC chairman Sonia Jain.
The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) is likely to field the incumbent MLA Rajendra Dholakia in the Nuapada assembly seat. Dhokia currently serves as a minister in Naveen Patnaik’s cabinet.
Interestingly, besides Rajendra Dholakia, eleven other aspirants within the BJD have applied to contest the election this time.
The Congress party is witnessing a surge of interest in the Nuapada assembly segment. Several contenders are vying for the party ticket. Notable names include Sarat Pattanayak (party state head), who is rumored to be interested in contesting from this seat. Congress stalwart Ghasiram Majhi, zilla parishad member Bharat Lal Rout, Rabindra Mangaraj, advocate Pradeep Sahu, Nilachal Mahananda have also applied for party ticket.
In this electoral battleground, candidates from different parties are gearing up for a fierce contest. Let’s see how the political drama unfolds in Nuapada.
