The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday announced the candidature of Sanat Kumar Gadtia as its nominee for the Bijepur Assembly seat.
The Central Election Committee of the BJP decided to field Gadtia against Biju Janta Dal (BJD) president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who filed his nomination papers for the seat on Monday.
The saffron party released its fourth list of candidates for the Assembly polls in the State.
Gadtia, a former BJD veteran, had deserted the party days ahead of Bijepur by-poll last year. Later, he along with his supporters joined the BJP. Earlier in 2008, Gadtia had quit the BJP to join the BJD. However, he again changed party after 11 years. Notably for the first time, Naveen Patnaik is contesting from two seats, his old Hinjili constituency and the new one Bijepur.