Bhubaneswar, Jan 25: Former Pradesh Congress Committee president Niranjan Patnaik may not contest the election in Ghasipura assembly constituency of Keonjhar district in the ensuing election.
It is now rumored that Niranjan may field his cousin brother Nabaranjan as the party candidate in Ghasipura assembly segment in the forthcoming election. Otherwise, his loyalist Subrat Chakra, Block chairman of Ghasipura may fight as a party candidate in the upcoming election. Chakra has been preparing the ground for years.
Ghasipura assembly constituency of Keonjhar district is one of the hottest seats in the state. Two heavyweight leaders, former PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik and BJD stalwart Badri Narayan Patra have been traditional rivals in this assembly constituency for a long time.
Congress vote bank has remained intact here for years with the party candidate Niranjan Patnaik fetching above 50 thousand votes. But the ruling BJD candidate Badrinarayan Patra has been winning consistently from Ghasipura. On the other hand, the BJP has been trying to assert its position here this time
Looking at the current situation, the position of Congress is not so good and is weakening here. Last time, the former Congress President Niranjan Patnaik had contested simultaneously in two seats, one Ghasipura and the other one Bhandaripokhri of Bhadrak district. He lost both seats in the 2019 election.
It is believed that Niranjan perhaps may not contest from Ghasipura assembly seat this time. He may contest the election from Bhandaripokhari assembly seat of Bhadrak district again. He may field his son from Ghasipura seat this time.
Similarly, it is also rumored that the veteran BJD leader Badri Narayan Patra may field his son in Ghasipura in the ensuing election.
