While the Bhandaripokhari Assembly constituency is going to witness a tough competition this time, the number of BJD aspirants for the seat is on the increase.
Incumbent MlA Prafulla Samal, former president of Utkal University Satya Siva Sundar Monanty and UN Nanda are in the race to get a BJD ticket this time for the seat.
Though Samal won the seat in 2009, he is still treated as an outsider and, on the other hand Nanda has already earned the name of being a rebel candidate as he fought the 2009 election against Samal.
However, Monanty seems to be a better option for the BJD supporters as he, being a youth leader, has played vital role in making many candidates win in the last panchayat and Zilla Parishad elections.
This apart, he has the reputation of being the president of governing body of Agarpara Degree College and director of the Anchalika Vikash Parishad of Bhadrak district.He is also associated with many self-help groups.