Top rivals BJD and Congress are watching each other’s move for fielding candidates in some Assembly seats under the Baleswar lok Sabha constituency.
The ruling party is yet to declare its candidates for the Remuna, Soro and Basta Assembly segments. The party is weighing various options, including winnability and minimum damage to voters factors, said sources.
The sources said the Basta seat is likely to see a new BJD face as sitting MlA Raghunath Mohanty may be denied a ticket this time due to various factors. “A new face has already been chosen, only declaration is awaited,” the sources added.
Similarly, sitting MlA Sudarshan Jena, who won the reserved Remuna seat by the highest margin of votes, may not get a ticket too this time as some adverse reports stand hurdles in his path. At least two new faces are strongly contending for the party ticket for the seat now.
It is also being discussed that the party may give ticket either to Surendra Parmanik or Parsuram Dhada of Soro area who joined the ruling party recently after quitting the Congress. Sources said if one of them is considered for the Soro seat, the other would be considered for Remuna.
On the other hand, the Congress is yet to announce its candidates for Baleswar Sadar and Nilgiri Assembly seats under the Parliamentary constituency.
The insiders in the party speculate that the Congress will name candidates for the two seats only after the BJD announces names candidates for all the seven Assembly seats under the lok Sabha seat.
While many party leaders speculate that Kartika Mohapatra of Soro mingh get a ticket for Nilagiri, others say Mohapapatra would be named as candidate for the lok Sabha seat as incumbent MP Srikant Jena is not interested for the seat.