New Delhi: In the run-up to the Lok Sabha and Odisha Assembly elections, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik declared the first list of party candidates on Wednesday.
The BJD president announced the names of nine candidates out of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, reported news agency PTI.
Patnaik himself will contest from the Hinjili Assembly segment in the Ganjam district.
BJD general secretary (Organisation) Pranab Prakash Das will contest from the Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat against Union Minister and BJP candidate Dharmendra Pradhan.
Other candidates include Lambodhar Nial from Kalahandi, Manmath Routray from Bhubaneswar, Anshuman Mohanty from Kendrapara, Paradip Majhi from Nabarangpur, Dilip Tirkey from Sundargarh, Sudam Marandi from Mayurbhanj, Ranjita Sahu from Aska, and Kaushalya Hikaka from Koraput.
The BJD also announced the names of 72 candidates for the 147 Assembly seats in Odisha.