BJD, BJP declare candidates for three Rajya Sabha seats of Odisha

June 21, 2019 Politics

Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday announced the candidates for bypolls to three Rajya Sabha seats of Odisha.

BJD president Naveen Patnaik declared party’s IT Cell Chairman Amar Patnaik and spokesperson Sasmit Patra as its candidates.

Naveen also announced to support former bureaucrat Ashwini Baishnab, the BJP candidate.

“The Prime Minister and Home Minister spoke to me. We (BJD) will support the candidature of Ashwini Baishnab,” said Patnaik.

Baishnab, a former Odisha-cadre IAS officer, had served in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as Private Secretary when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. He also served as the Collector of Cuttack.

The polling will be held on July 5.