Ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik on Thursday denied tickets to nine sitting MlAs and one sitting lok Sabha member, while at the same time accommodating former JMM State president Sudam Marandi, former Minister and BJP leader Golak Nayak, former BJP leader Aswni Patra and Talcher’s sitting Independent MlA Braja Kishore Pradhan as he released the list of party candidates for the second phase elections to be held on April 17 next for seven Parliamentary and 41 Assembly constituencies.
Independent law maker Pradhan had switched over his allegiance to the BJD during the Rajya Sabha polls, while former MP Marandi had disserted the JMM along with his supporters and joined the BJD as the central party opposed his move to have poll alliance with the ruling BJD. Golak Nayak had resigned from the BJP and joined the BJD at the last moment.
The party is yet to finalise candidates for the rest 36 Assembly seats and four lok Sabha seats going to polls in the second phase elections.
Patnaik also announced two names of candidates for the first phase of polls. While Mahidhar Rana, a new face has been fielded in Kantamal Assembly seat dropping sitting MlA Bhagaban Kamhar, Patnaik made a last moment change in Balangir Assembly seat under duress apprehending defeat. In place of Harekrushna Sarangi, Patnaik renominated newly elected Rajya Sabha MP AU Singh Deo.
Singh Deo would resign from the Rajya Sabha, said Patnaik while releasing the names. The BJD chief seems shaky as far as the ensuing poll prospect is concerned. This was evident from the fact that Patnaik had fielded two Rajya Sabha Members - Singh Deo for Balangir Assembly seat and Dillip Tirkey for Sundergarh lok Sabha seat for the first phase while nominating Rajya Sabha member Rabi Naryan Mohapatra from Ranpur Assembly seat.
Sitting MP Arjun Charan Sethi, Bhadrak,Tathagat Satpathy,Dhenkanal, Bhartuhari Mahatab, Cuttack, Pinaki Mishra, Puri and Baijayant Panda, Kendrapara, were renominated to contest from their respective Parliamentary constituencies. However, Patnaik dropped Mayurbhaj (ST) sitting lok Sabha Member laxman Tudu. In his place, NCP tuned BJD member Rama Chandra Hansda was given ticket. For Baleswar, Patnaik chose Rabindra Jena, a new face for politically sensitive Baleswar lok Sabha seat, which is sure to witness a tough fight with Union Minister Srikanta Jena of Congress being in the fray.
Patnaik reposed faith on 26 sitting MlAs of the party and six sitting lok Sabha members by renominating them in their respective seats to contest the 2014 elections. Earlier, Patnaik had released the names of candidates in ten lok Sabha seats and 69 Assembly seats.
Nine sitting MlAs denied tickets include -Kamala Kanta Nayak (Jasipur), Srinath Soren (Udala), Manoranjan Sethi (Badasashi), Kalindi Behera (Cuttack Sadar), Satyanarayan Pradhan (Ranpur), Sidhartha Sekhar Singh (Khandapara), Anjali Behera (Hindol) and Bijaya Nayak(Chandbali). Anubhab Patnaik, son of former MlA Arun Patnaik, was given ticket in place of Sidharth Sekhar Singh in Khandapara.
Anjali Behera was dropped for the fact that she was a strong supporter of BJD rebel Pyarimohan Mohapatra. Notably, in the first phase elections, as many as six sitting MlAs and two sitting MPs were not renominated to contest the elections.
Panchayati Raj Minister and newly elected Rajya Sabha Member Kalpataru Das was successful in impressing upon the BJD supremo to nominate his son Pranab Balabantaray to contest from Dharmasala Assembly seat held by him so far.
There are two women candidates in the first list of candidates. While former Minister and sitting member Pramila Mallick was renominated from her Binjharpur Assembly seat, Seema Nayak was given ticket from Hindol.