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Ministers, ex-ministers, Cong chief in fray for last round of Odisha assembly polls
More than 9.5 million voters in the 42 assembly constituencies will cast their votes across the state. There are 346 candidates in assembly constituencies.
The fate of five Biju Janata Dal (BJD) ministers, ex-minister and the current Congress state president will be decided in the fourth and final round of polls for the 42 of Odisha’s 147 assembly seats that are going to polls on April 29.
More than 9.5 million voters in the 42 assembly constituencies will cast their votes across the state. There are 346 candidates in assembly constituencies. In the third phase, 71.61% of the 9.2 million voters had cast their votes for 42 Assembly constituencies on April 23.
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In 2014 polls, BJD had won 37 of the 42 assembly seats where polling will be held on April 29.
BJD ministers Ananta Das, Prafulla Samal, Chandra Sarathi Behera, Shashi Bhushan Behera and Pratap Jena are some of the important candidates in the fray while PCC chief Niranjan Patnaik would be trying his luck from Bhandaripokhari seat in Bhadrak district.
Former BJD minister Damodar Rout, who was expelled from the party last year and had joined BJP last month, would try his luck from Balikuda-Erasama constituency in Jagatsinghour district. Former BJD minister Ragnunath Mohanty who also joined BJP last month after being denied a ticket is contesting from Basta constituency in Balasore district.
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The key constituencies going to polls in the fourth phase are Bhandaripokhari, Balikuda-Erasama, Basta and Kendrapara. In the 42 Assembly seats, the fight is mostly between BJD and BJP while Congress seems relevant in a about 15-odd seats.
The votes will be counted on May 23 along with those cast in the Lok Sabha election being held simultaneously in the eastern state.