Not only film stars, journalists too have begun lining up in front of political parties’ offices seeking tickets to contest in the forthcoming elections in the State.
Editor of leading Odia daily The Samaja Satya Ray is now keen to contest the elections as a BJD candidate. The 58-year-old journalist, who is now on an extension stint as editor of the newspaper, has sought the ruling party’s ticket to contest either from the Banki Assembly seat or the Cuttack Parliamentary constituency.
“I have sought the BJD ticket to either contest from my native place in Banki for the Assembly or for the Cuttack lok Sabha seat,” Dr Ray told this correspondent, claiming that his application is under active consideration of party president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
“Although I am keener to contest the Assembly elections, some party senior leaders want me to contest for the Parliamentary elections. “I have left it to the judgment of the Chief Minister,” Dr Ray said, adding that he has been associated with several social welfare organisations in Banki for past several years.
Confirming that his extended assignment with The Samaja (after his retirement in September last year) is ending by this month-end, Ray said he would quit active journalism to plunge into active politics soon. He, however, did not commit anything when asked whether he would contest the elections even if he is denied a BJD ticket.
Sources said Ray had recently met Naveen Patnaik and is quite hopeful to begin his political career soon. “Journalists plunging into politics are not uncommon in Odisha, and we have at least more than a dozen editors in the State, who are now very active in politics,” Dr Ray said.
The Cuttack Parliamentary constituency is now represented by BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab, also an editor-turned-politician. The senior BJD leader, when asked about another editor seeking BJD ticket from the constituency he has been representing for last 15 years, said he welcomes Ray to politics.
Similarly, Banki BJD MlA Pravat Tripathy too welcomed Ray to politics but with a caustic observation. “I am actively involved with the Banki politics for last two decades and have won here thrice. I’m still with the people and shall continue to serve the Banki people,” he said.