Bhubaneswar , May 2: During the nomination filing for the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat, workers from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) confronted each other outside the Khordha Collector’s office
Aparajita Sarangi, a former IAS officer and BJP candidate, was filing her nomination, while Manmath Routray, the son of former Minister and Jatni Congress MLA Suresh Kumar Routray, represented the BJD also filed nomination on Thrusday.
The atmosphere was charged with slogans such as “Jay Jagannath” and “Jay Sri Ram,” as supporters of both parties engaged in spirited demonstrations.
BJD supporters blew conches, while BJP supporters waved flags adorned with the lotus symbol. The situation escalated, leading to a near-confrontation between the workers.
Despite police intervention, the face-off lasted for approximately two hours, with around 20 to 25 policemen present at the Collector’s office.
Khordha Superintendent of Police Abinash Kumar stated that they were prepared to handle the situation and attempted to maintain distance between the rival workers.
In 2019, Aparajita Sarangi, the BJP candidate secured victory in the election, winning the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat with 486,991 votes, while Arup Patnaik of the BJD came in second with 463,152 votes.
The electoral contest was intense, reflecting the political fervor in the region during that time.
