Naveen rules out change in BJD list of candidates

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today ruled out any possibility of making changes in party list of candidates for Assembly elections.

Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today ruled out any possibility of making changes in the party list of candidates for Assembly elections despite the resentment shown by those not included in the list.

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"The names of the candidates were announced after they were approved by the party's political affairs committee and there is no question of changes being made now", Patnaik told reporters at Purushottampur, about 30 km from here.

The BJD supremo however hoped that the present discontent of followers of leaders deprived of BJD ticket would die down after filing of nominations for the polls gained momentum.

"The rumblings over the exclusions would not have any impact on the party's electoral prospects even if some of them decide to contest as rebels", he averred.

Supporters of several leaders including Speaker Sarat Kumar Kar, former minister Amar Satpathy and Nabin Nanda had expressed deep resentment over the denial of tickets to these leaders. A large number of these supporters marched to Naveen Nivas, the Chief Minister's residence at Bhubaneswar over the past three days throwing traffic out of gear.

The Chief Minister was on a visit to his constituency Hinjili and nearby Purushottampur to address election meetings.