THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Bhubaneswar, April 17: In addition to his customary Hinjili seat in Ganjam district, BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik will run from the Kantabanji assembly constituency in Bolangir district of Western Odisha.
Through a video message on Wednesday, BJD chief Naveen Patnaik revealed the list of candidates.
Four incumbent MLAs have been dropped by the party: Rajnikant Singh (Angul), Samir Ranjan Dash (Nimapara), Purna Chandra Baka (Chitrakonda), and Kishore Chandra Naik (Kuchinda).
Four turncoats nominated
In addition, Patnaik has nominated and rewarded four turncoats to run in the assembly elections. Arundhati Devi (Deogarh), Rajendra Kumar Chhatria (Kuchinda), Dillip Kumar Nayak (Nimapara), and Laxmipriya Nayak (Chitrakonda) are among them.
Six female candidates
The roster comprises six female candidates: Laxmipriya Nayak (Chitrakonda), Barsa Singh Bariha (Padampur), Arundhati Devi (Deogarh), Sanjukta Singh (Angul), Sulkhnsa Gitanajali Devi (Samakhemundi), and Dr. Indira Nanda (Jeypore).
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Candidature of two leaders swapped
The BJD president has also swapped the candidature of two leaders. Rohit Pujari, MLA of Rairakhol, has been selected as the nominee for the Sambalpur assembly constituency, while Prasanna Acharya will now contest from Rairakhol.
The fifth list of BJD candidates:
Laxmipriya Nayak- Chitrakonda
Naveen Patnaik- Kantabanji
Barsha Singh Bariha- Padampur
Arundhati Kumari Devi- Deogarh
Rajendra Chatria- Kuchinda
Sanjukta Singh- Angul
Dilip Nayak- Nimapada
Sulakshana Geetanjali Devi- Sanakhemundi
Indira Nanda- Jeypore
Rohit Pujari- Sambalpur
Prasanna Acharya- Rairakhol
