Bhubaneswar, May 22: The Puri Lok Sabha constituency holds significant importance in the state, and the ensuing elections are also closely watched.
In the 2019 general elections, Pinaki Misra of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) had secured victory, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) spokesperson, Sambit Patra with a slender margin of 11,714 votes.
Notably, Sambit Patra had almost pulled off an upset, demonstrating strong support in the constituency. The parliamentary constituency comprises of Puri , Brahmagiri, Satyabadi, Pipili, Chilika, Ranpur and Nayagarh assembly segments.. Of these 7 assembly segments, two-Puri and Brahmagiri-had been won by BJP in 2019.
However, a recent faux pas—where Sambit Patra stated that Lord Jagannath is a devotee of PM Modi—has cost him dear, Patra’s opponent, Arup Patnaik (BJD), a former Mumbai police commissioner, aims to retain the seat in the upcoming elections this time..
The BJD has highlighted the Rs 800 crore Srimandir Parikrama project as a major achievement during its tenure Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has led a road show on the Grand Road in Puri town, has targetted the Naveen Patnaik government for its inability in protecting the Odia pride and Jagannath cult.
BJD is fighting hard, as losing Puri would be a significant setback for it..
The poor performer grand old party Congress has nominted Jay Narayan Patnaik as its candidate at last moment of election.
As the Lok Sabha seat heads to polls in the sixth phase on May 25, all eyes are on the outcome. The battle between Patra and Patnaik promises to be intense, with both sides vying for victory in this prestigious constituency.
