Odisha is preparing for the imminent Lok Sabha elections, with 37 candidates poised to compete across four pivotal constituencies. The Election Commission (EC) has affirmed that voting for the Nabarangpur, Berhampur, Koraput, and Kalahandi Lok Sabha seats will occur on May 13. The nomination phase, commencing on April 18, concluded recently, with the deadline for withdrawal of nominations having passed. Initially, 38 candidates had their nominations accepted, but one candidate from Koraput has subsequently withdrawn.
This electoral contest will feature a diverse array of contenders, comprising 30 men and seven women vying for the seats. The candidate distribution across the constituencies is as follows: Kalahandi (11 candidates), Nabarangpur (4), Berhampur (11), and Koraput (11). Moreover, 28 assembly segments within these Lok Sabha constituencies are scheduled to vote on the same day. Further polling for the remaining Lok Sabha and assembly seats in the state is slated for May 20, May 25, and June 1.
Numerous prominent figures from various political parties have entered the electoral fray. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra is contesting from the Puri Lok Sabha seat, while former Union Minister Dilip Ray is vying for a seat in the Rourkela assembly segment. State minister Ranendra Pratap Swain and BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma are contesting from Athagarh and Satyabadi assembly seats, respectively. These nominations were marked by significant processions, underscoring the competitive fervor of the elections.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and BJD organizational secretary Pranab Prakash Das are eyeing April 30 as the deadline to file their nominations. Patnaik is seeking reelection in the Hinjili assembly constituency for the sixth time and will also contest from the Kantabanji assembly seat in western Odisha. Conversely, Das is making his electoral debut against Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the Sambalpur parliamentary seat.
The elections in Odisha are shaping up to be a closely monitored affair, with prominent political figures and newcomers alike entering the fray. As the state braces for these pivotal polls, the outcomes in these constituencies could significantly impact the political landscape in Odisha.