Seemingly scared of the Modi wave, ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik fielded four Rajya Sabha members in the ongoing poll fray. The fourth one came in form of Sashi Bhushan Behera, who has a stint of another two years in the Rajya Sabha.
Behera was fielded in Jayadev Assembly constituency replacing sitting MlA Arabinda Dhali as the BJD boss released the fifth list of candidates for 19 Assembly and two lok Sabha constituencies going to polls in the second phase on April 17.
While releasing earlier lists for the first and second phases, Patnaik had virtually recalled his three Rajya Sabha MPs- Dillip Tirkey, AU Singh Deo and Rabi Narayan Mohapatra.
The most interesting is that Singh Deo who was elected to Rajya Sabha in February last was asked to contest the Balangir Assembly seat in the face of revolt in the district unit of the party against giving ticket to his assistant Harekrushna Sarangi. While Tirkey was roped in for Bonai lok Sabha seat, Mohapatra was given ticket for Ranapur Assembly seat.
RS MP Sashi fielded from Jayadev
In the fifth list, Patnaik denied ticket to eight sitting MlAs and two sitting MPs. The sitting MlAs dropped include veteran leader and party vice-president Prafulla Ghadai from Sukinda, Parsuram Panigrahi from Simulia, Aravinda Dhali form Jayadev, Nabin Nanda from Dhenkanal, Rabi Mallick from Kakatpur, Rabindra Bhoi from Tirtol, Prasanta Nanda from Begunia and former Government Chief Whip Rabi Narayan Pani from Pallahara.
However, while Parsuram Panigrahi has managed to ensure ticket to his son from his seat, Ghadai has been denied ticket this time form Sukinda where as his son Pritiranjan would contest the polls. However, the ticket for Pritiranjan’s seat Korei was given to actor- turned- politician Akash Das Nayak, son of trade union leader Mayadhar Nayak.
Two sitting MPs denied ticket are Mohan Jena from Jajpur and Jasbantsing laguri from Keonjhar. However, laguri’s wife Sakuntala laguri was given ticket to contest in his husband’s place. In Jajpur Parliamentary constituency, Rita Tarai has been given the ticket.
While Patnaik has reposed faith on sitting lok Sabha member Dr Prasanna Kumar Patsani who was renominated from Bhubaneswar, Dr Kulamani Samal, a new face was given ticket for Jagatsinghpur Parliamentary seat. The BJD chief also renominated Health Minister Dr Damodar Rout for Paradip, Higher Education Minister Badrinarayan Patra for Ghasipura, Bishnu Das for Jagatsinghpur, Prasanta Muduli for Balikuda- Erasama, Hrusikesh Nayak for Patna, Asok Chandra Panda from Ekamra, Bijay Mohanty from Bhubaneswar (central), Jiban Pradeep Das from Baleswar and Jugal Kishore Patnaik from Bhadrak.
Naveen Patnaik announced that actor Anubhav Mohanty would be sent to Rajya Sabha on BJD ticket. It may be mentioned that Mohanty was earlier tipped as the BJD candidate for the Cuttack lok Sabha seat.