BJP Unveils Candidate Slate Ahead of Odisha Assembly Polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)公布了即将举行的奥里萨邦议会选举的21名候选人名单。名单包括21个名字，其中包括Dilip Ray、Sanjali Murmu和Akhil Chandra Naik。此前，该党重新提名了该州22名现任议员中的17名，并宣布了147个议会选区中的112个的候选人名单。该党撤销了Puri区Brahmagiri选区一名立法者Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra的资格，并派出了他的侄女Upasana。

Bharatiya Janata Party Unveils Candidate List for Odisha Assembly Elections

New Delhi, April 16, 2024 (IANS): In a major political development ahead of the upcoming Odisha Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released its list of 21 candidates on Tuesday. The list includes a diverse range of individuals, including veteran politicians, social activists, and former legislators.

The most notable inclusion is Dilip Ray, a seasoned politician who will contest from the Rourkela constituency. Ray, a former MLA and minister, is expected to mount a formidable challenge against incumbent Labor Minister Sarada Nayak of the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).

Another significant candidate is Sanjali Murmu, a tribal leader who will represent the Bangiriposi constituency. Murmu's nomination underscores the BJP's commitment to empowering marginalized communities.

The BJP has also given tickets to five turncoats who recently defected from the BJD to join its ranks. Among them are Amarndra Dash (Jagatsinghpur), Dambaru Sisa (Chitrakonda), Kalilash Kulesika (Laxmipur), Bhadav Hansdah (Saraskana), and Jagannath Nudruka (Bissam Katak). These defections are seen as a major setback for the ruling party.

In a surprising move, the BJP has decided to field Upasana Mohapatra, the niece of former MLA Lalitendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra, in the Brahmagiri constituency in the Puri district. Mohapatra, a sitting legislator, was dropped from the BJP's candidate list for reasons that remain unclear.

The BJP's candidate list also includes two women candidates, Surama Padhi and Sanjali Murmu. Padhi was initially named as the BJP's candidate for the Ranpur assembly segment but was later replaced by Tapas Ranjan Martha.

With the release of this latest list, the BJP has now announced the names of 131 candidates for the 147 assembly constituencies in Odisha. The party had earlier released the names of candidates for all the 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

The Odisha Assembly and Lok Sabha elections will be held in four phases on May 13, May 20, May 25, and June 1, 2024. The results will be declared on June 4, 2024.

The BJP is aiming to unseat the incumbent BJD government, which has been in power for over two decades. The party is banking on its strong organizational machinery and the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to secure a victory in the upcoming polls.

Meanwhile, the BJD remains confident of retaining power, citing its track record of development and its deep-rooted connection with the people of Odisha. The party has also fielded two octogenarian candidates, Ramesh Chandra Chyaupatnaik and Kishore Kumar Mohanty, in a bid to tap into the support of older voters.

The upcoming Odisha Assembly elections are expected to be fiercely contested, with both the BJP and BJD leaving no stone unturned in their quest for victory. The outcome of the elections will have significant implications for the political landscape of the state and could also impact the national political scene.