Naveen Patnaik re-nominates Baijayant, Pinaki, Arjun, Mahatab & Tathagat

BHUBANESWAR: The ruling BJD president Naveen Patnaik today re-nominated the five sitting MPs and denied ticket to Laxman Tudu who represented Mayurbhanj in the Lok Sabha.

While announcing names of candidates for the second phase of polling on April 17, the ruling BJD supremo announced candidates for the seven Parliamentary Constituencies. A total of 11 Lok Sabha constituencies and 77 assembly segments are going to polls in the second phase of elections.

The MPs who are re-nominated are: Arjun Charan Sethi (Bhadrak), Tathagat Satpathy (Dhenkanal), Bhartuhari Mahatab (Cuttack), Pinaki Mishra (Puri) and Baijayant Panda (Kendrapara).

The BJD supremo fielded Rarbinda Jena, a new face, in Balasore Lok Sabha seat to contest against Union Minister and Congress candidate Srikant Jena.

During the last general elections in 2009, the BJD had not fielded its candidate from Balasore Lok Sabha seat. The Balasore seat was in hands of NCP as part of the seat adjustment with the NCP in 2009.

Patnaik named sitting MLA from Saraskana assembly segment Ramchandra Hansda as the BJD candidate for Mayurbhanj Lok Sabha seat.

Of the total 21 Lok Sabha seats, 10 are going to polls on April 10 while polling will be held for rest 11 Parliamentary constituencies on April 17.