Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik filed his nomination papers for Hinjili Assembly constituency in his home district Ganjam and on Wednesday.
He was the first BJD candidate in the State to file nomination papers for the coming polls.
Backup in Bijepur
Since becoming the Chief Minister in 2000, Mr. Patnaik has contested and won from Hinjili four times in a row. This time around he has decided to contest from one more seat — Bijepur Assembly seat in Bargarh district in western Odisha — which will go to polls in the second phase. Polling for Hinjli will be held in the first phase.
This is the first time Mr. Patnaik will contest from two seats in the Assembly elections. He will file his papers for Bijepur in Bargarh district when the nomination process for the second phase will start.
On Wednesday, he submitted four sets of nomination papers for Hinjili before Assistant Sub-Collector S.N. Nayak.
Women power
To demonstrate the BJD’s commitment to social and political emancipation of women, Pramila Bisoi, a women self-help group activist, accompanied Mr. Patnaik when he submitted his nomination papers at the district headquarters town, Chhatrapur. Ms. Bisoi is the BJD’s candidate for Aska parliamentary constituency.
After Mr. Patnaik’s nomination, State Minister Usha Devi filed her nomination papers for Chikiti Assembly segment in Ganjam district.
Most senior leaders of Ganjam district were present at Chhatrapur along with a huge crowd of BJD supporters. The crowd included large number of women, who chanted slogans in favour of the Chief Minister.
Before reaching Chhatrapur, Mr. Patnaik visited Tara Tarini hill shrine in the district to worship the twin mother deities revered throughout the State.
Speaking to newsmen after filing his nomination, Mr. Patnaik reiterated that the BJD will win plenty of seats and will again form the government in the State.
Hinjili’s unique history
Hinjili Assembly constituency has a history of electing the same legislator again and again. Former State Minister, late Brundaban Nayak, had won from this Assembly seat seven times in 1957, 1961, 1967, 1971, 1974, 1977 and 1980.