Meenakshi Mahanta, a protégé of Champua Independent MLA Santatan Mahakud, might be picked up by the BJD for the Champua seat this time.
After his recent resignation from the post of president of Jana Samruddhi Party, a political outfit launched by Mahakud, it was thought that there would be an end to his political career, but Mahakud proved the speculation wrong.
Sources revealed that recently, Mahakud had gone to the Naveen Niwas to meet BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik and claim his nomination from BJD for Champua, but Patnaik who didn't like to displease local Minister Badri Narayan Patra on the one hand and Jitu Patnaik, a former Champua MLA, on the other, as the duo is opposed to Mahakud, is said to have agreed to field a candidate sponsored by Mahakud.
Sources also informed that Patnaik assured Mahakud to nominate him to Rajya Sabha in lieu of his support for the victory of the BJD candidates in Keonjhar district.
Accordingly, Meenakshi Mahanta, wife of Bhakta Mahanta, a close confidant of Mahakud, may be BJD nominee for Champua. Now all eyes are on Kusha Apat who has a large support base and has worked extensively for strengthening the organization of the BJD in the district.
Meanwhile, Bijaya Mahakud, secretary, Biju Labour wing of Keonjhardistrict, and Reena Barik, working president of Keonjhar BJD are hopeful that they will be the BJD candidates for Champua.