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BJD MLAs back Sugnani Deo as next candidate from Aska

BERHAMPUR: The BJD MLAs of Ganjam district have started promoting the Khallikote MLA, Sugnani Deo as the candidate of the party from the Aska parliamentary constituency in the coming Lok Sabha polls.

It may be noted that the sitting MP from Aska, Harihar Swain who had won on the BJD ticket was recently expelled from the party. He had defied the party whip and voted in favour of the UPA government during the trust vote. As the general elections are a few months away the BJD activists are too busy to decide upon a candidate for the Aska parliamentary constituency. Due to recent developments Aska has become too important for the BJD as it is in the home district of their party chief Naveen Patnaik. Mr. Patnaik had also started his political career as an MP from Aska after the seat became vacant due to death of his father, Biju Patnaik in 1997.

All the BJD MLAs of the district feel the veteran politician and Khallikote MLA, Sugnani Deo would be the fitting candidate for the Aska parliamentary constituency. Kodala MLA, Niranjan Pradhan said all the BJD MLAs of the district were unanimous about this decision. It may be noted that there are seven MLAs of the party in Ganjam district including Ms. Deo and the BJD supremo Mr. Patnaik. The independent MLA of Aska MLA is also supporting the BJD. Mr. Pradhan said Ms. Deo had been informed about this decision of the MLAs and she was also showing positive attitude towards it. It may be noted that she happens to be a powerful politician of Ganjam district who had been chosen by the Janata Dal to contest former Prime Minister, P.V.Narasimha Rao in Berhampur parliamentary constituency in 1996.

In 2004 the BJD had fielded Harihar Swain from the Aska parliamentary constituency after he defected to the party from the Congress. The then BJD MP of Aska, Kumudini Patnaik along with her husband former State minister Ramkrushna Patnaik had been removed from the BJD. The history seems to have repeated itself with recent developments related to Mr.Swain. To avoid any similar mistake in the choice of candidate, the BJD leaders have decided to choose the next MP candidate for Aska.

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