Hectic parleys by aspirants for Dhenkanal parliamentary seat

DHENKANAL:While the suspense of BJD-BJP alliance still persists ticket aspirants for Dhenkanal parliamentary constituency started intense lobbying at their party hgh command.

Dhenkanal parliamentary seat consists of four assembly seats of Dhenkanal district and three belonging to Angul.The assembly segments are  Talcher,Angul,Pallahara,Hindol,Dhenkanal,Kamakhyanagar and Parjang.BJD MP candidates have been winning in this seat till 2019.The BJD-BJP alliance candidates in 1999 in elections last to congress candidates K P SInghdeo.Then in 2004 ,2009,2014 and 2019 BJD won in this seat.In last general election in 2019 BJD candidate Mahesh Sahoo defeated  BJP candidate Rudra Narayan Pani by more than 35,000 votes.

 Now,when three major political parties BJP,BJD and congress are still to announce their candidates for Dhenkanal aspirants are galore for party tickets.With central minister Dharmendra Pradhan reportedly opting for Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat former Rajya Sabha MP Rudra Narayan Pani who has contested the seat four times is an aspirant.Pani also was also a Rajya Sabha member for eight years.He has started in moving constituency and holding meetings with party functionaries across the constituency.Besides Rudra Narayan Pani,the name of former MP Rabi Narayan Pani is also being heard from party sources.

 As per the BJD besides the current incumbent Mahesh Sahoo there are many other names  floating in political circles. They are  Biplab Jena,Abinash Samal,Sudhir Samal,Rajanikant Singh,Mahendra Bastia and minister Prafulla Mallick. Biplab Jena has left congress and joined BJD recently.

 Angul DCC president Sangram Mishra said though there are some aspirants no decision has so far been made about the party candidate for Dhenkanal seat. Similar opinions were also made by BJD and BJP leaders in the constituency. According to political observers if the alliance is stitched then the Dhenkanal seat may go to BJP.All eyes are on the declaration of party candidates for the three major political parties shortly.

Speaking to this paper Jena said he will work as a disciplined soldier whatever party will ask for. Similarly,Abinash Samal,the nephew of Dhenkanal MLA Sudhir Samal is a doctor who is also an aspirant for MP ticket.As per congress ,the former state Mahila congress president Sasmita Behera is the front runner in the race.Besides,Behera Angul DCC President Sangram Mishra is also an aspirant. Congress sources also told that the daughter-in-law of veteran congress leader KPSinghdeo may be given MP ticket for congress party ticket.

Angul DCC president Sangram Mishra said though there are some aspirants no decision has so far been made about the party candidate for Dhenkanal seat. Similar opinions were also made by BJD and BJP leaders in the constituency. According to political observers if the alliance will be stitched then Dhenkanal seat may go to BJP.All eyes are on the declaration of party candidates respective three major political parties shortly.