Revolting against denial of BJD ticket to contest for the November 3 Dhamnagar Assembly by-election, party leader and former MLA Rajendra Das on Friday filed nomination papers as an Independent candidate.
“I am confident about my victory as I have the blessings of my elders and support of the public,” said Das while heading towards the block office, Bhadrak in a procession with his supporters for submitting nomination papers.
“I will not withdraw my nomination. The BJD has done injustice to me. I had lost in the 2019 polls by a narrow margin due to a rival group within the party,” he said.
The BJD has already fielded Tihidi block Chairperson Abanti Das as its nominee for the by-poll, but Rajendra’s move is likely to affect the party’s campaign for the election.
Following the revolt by Rajendra Das, the party had engaged several senior leaders to persuade him but in vain.
Rajendra had successfully contested the elections from Dhamnagar as the BJD candidate in 2009. However, he lost to Bishnu Sethi of the BJP in the 2019 polls while contesting as the BJD nominee.