The refusal by sitting BJP MlA of Khariar Hitesh Bagarti to contest Assembly elections this time has put the party leadership in a fix.Bagarti said he had earlier informed the party leadership that he is not keen on contesting for the Khariar seat in Nuapada district this time.
However, the BJP State president KV Singh Deo expressed surprise over Bagart’s decision, saying the MlA had not informed him about his unwillingness to contest the elections. Bagarti was chosen as the candidate for the seat in view of his good works in the last five years.
Though the BJP MlA did not elaborate on the reason for his unwillingness to contest, sources in the party, however, said he is annoyed because he was interested in becoming the party’s lok Sabha candidate, something that did not happen.