Bhubaneswar: The BJD has nominated Minakshi Mahanta to contest from the Champua Assembly segment. The announcement was made Thursday morning by Odisha Chief Minister and party supremo Naveen Patnaik here.
With the declaration, the total number of candidates so far announced by the BJD stands at 145. The names for the two remaining assembly constituencies – Kendrapara and Baripada are expected soon, party sources said. The BJD is finding it tough to nominate candidates for these two seats as there is more than one senior leader as contenders. Hence the party is deliberating over the prospective candidates.
BJD is mulling over the names of sitting MLA, Kishore Chandra Tarai or former MLA, Sipra Mallick for the Kendrapara assembly constituency while for the Baripada segment the two main contenders are Rajya Sabha member Sarojini Hembram and sitting MLA Sudam Marndi.
PNN
