Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is credited as the first Odia to have been a member of the Rajya Sabha from outside Odisha, has once again filed his nomination papers for the March 23 RS polls from Madhya Pradesh. Last time, he had been elected from Bihar.
In his reaction, Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Narandra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah for nominating him for the Rajya Sabha again. “By sending me to the Rajya Sabha again, the Prime Minister and the BJP national president have honoured the whole Odia Samaj and Odia speaking people,” said Pradhan in a statement.
He too thanked Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for his support.
He said he has got opportunity to serve the society with the blessings of Lord Jagannath.
At the time of filing of nominations, Chouhan, BJP State president Nanda Kumar Singh Chouhan, Minister Narottam Mishra and other BJP leaders were present.