New Delhi [India], May 23 : The Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha seat, one of the 21 Parliamentary constituencies will go for polls in the sixth phase of elections on May 25.
The seat will witness a three-way contest among the sitting MP Aparajita Sarangi, Congress leader Yasir Nawaz and Biju Janata Dal leader Manmath Routray.
In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Aparajita Sarangi secured victory from this seat after facing a close contest from BJD's Arup Mohan Patnaik. Sarangi got 4,86,991 votes while Patnaik got 4,63,152 votes.
According to Sarangi, several developmental works have been done, but some are still pending, including proper drainage systems, better roads and other facilities. The senior leader said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi always asks everybody to serve the people.
"When I won in 2019, there were two types of people who voted for me and others who did not vote for me. In the last 5 years, I have worked hard for both categories of people and will continue to work for them. I will work on every aspect to fulfil the 'Vikshit Bharat' dream of our Prime Minister. Bhubaneswar Parliamentary constituency will play a crucial role in the upcoming election and with the blessings of people, I will try to bring development here," said Sarangi.
At one of her campaigns, Sarangi also mentioned that a BJP Chief Minister will take oath on June 10.
"Central BJP's order was that five of us should go together and talk to our workers and listen to their problems and prepare for victory. We are all very excited. Workers are very excited. Ever since PM Modi said in Balangir that the people of Odisha should give us 5 years so that we can show what development is. PM told us that we will make Odisha the number 1 state in the country. BJP's CM will certainly take the oath on 10th June," she said.
Exuding confidence that the BJP will win more than 15 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, Aparajita said, "This ticket is not for me but for all the people of the constituency. I can say with all confidence that the way things are going we will be winning more than 15 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats and at the same time, we will form the government in Odisha as well and there will be a double-engine government here."
During the campaign trail in Bhubaneswar, the BJP president JP Nadda slammed Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, saying that the people of Odisha have made up their minds to bring change in the state.
"The people have made up their minds to bring about change and to bless the BJP...As far as the Assembly elections are concerned, the people of Odisha have decided to give rest to CM Naveen Patnaik and the BJP will win the elections here. I also want to say that the people of Odisha want that there should be an active CM," Nadda said.
A seasoned pilot by profession, Manmath Routray's unconventional campaigning captured the attention of the people of Bhubaneswar.
Speaking to ANI, the BJD leader said that he would keep his promises made to the public.
"I am receiving so much love and support from the public. I just want to say that I will never break my promises made to them," Routray said.
He also filed his nomination papers from Bhubaneshwar. Manmath Routray resigned as a pilot of Air India in January.
Routray is the son of six-time Odisha Congress MLA Suresh Routray who recently resigned from all committees of his party, soon after Routray joined the ruling BJD and was named as its candidate for the Bhubaneswar Lok Sabha constituency.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) emerged as the dominant party, securing 20 out of the 21 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a single seat.
However, the 2019 elections saw a shift in the political landscape. The BJD's seat count was reduced to 12, while the BJP made significant gains, winning 8 seats. This change marked a notable increase in the BJP's presence in the state. The Indian National Congress (INC) also managed to secure a seat in the 2019 elections.
The assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the BJD-ruled state are being held across four phases--from May 13 to June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.Polling for the first phase was conducted in 28 Assembly seats and four Lok Sabha constituencies on May 13.
In the fifth phase, 35 Assembly seats and five Lok Sabha constituencies will vote on May 20, 42 Assembly segments and six Lok Sabha seats on May 25, and the remaining 42 Assembly seats and six Lok Sabha constituencies in the last phase on June 1.