Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik kicked off his party’s election campaign from Sheragada, a block headquarters town, in Ganjam district on Wednesday. The campaign began with a road-show under Patnaik’s Hinjili Assembly constituency.
Patnaik is seeking re-election from Hinjili for the fourth consecutive time in the elections to be held on April 10.During his daylong campaign, Patnaik with his supporters covered almost all panchayat headquarters in two blocks, Sheragada and Hinjili, along with the Notified Area Council (NAC) in Hinjili.
Patnaik had won the seat by a margin of 26,417 votes over his Congress rival in 2000. The winning margin increased to 42,642 votes in 2004 and 61,273 in 2009.“We are only concerned about his victory margin this time,” said Sheragada panchayat samiti chairperson Babula Choudhury, adding, “The Chief Minister’s campaign will morally boost the workers and supporters of the constituency.”
“I am hopeful about the party’s success in the ensuing polls,” said Patnaik while campaigning.After the campaign in Hinjili, the BJD supremo conducted a road-show in Brahmapur city and Gopalpur town in the evening.He will hit the campaign trail in some other places in different segments including Chhatrapur, Purusottampur, Kabisuryanagar, Aska, Polsara and Sanakhemundi on Thursday after a night at Gopalpur.
Notably, main opposition Congress has pitted Sibaram Patra against Patnaik. The other candidates who are contesting from the seat are Rabi Rath (Samata Kranti Dal), Debananda Mohapatra (BJP) and Rama Krushn Das (Independent).