BJD Releases 2nd List Of 6 Candidates For Lok Sabha Polls

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has released its second list of candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Odisha, shortly after announcing its first list of nine contenders. Notable inclusions feature former Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik, who will be contesting from the Puri Lok Sabha constituency, pitted against BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra. Patnaik, previously unsuccessful in the 2019 polls from Bhubaneswar, steps in as sitting BJD MP Pinaki Mishra expressed unwillingness to run for 2024 polls.

Dr Avinash Samal, hailing from a medical background and nephew of Dhenkanal MLA Sudhir Samal, secures the BJD ticket for Dhenkanal, replacing incumbent MP Mahesh Sahoo. Meanwhile, Rajashree Mallick retains her candidacy for Jagatsinghpur after her 2019 victory, as does Kandhamal MP Achyuta Samant.

Santrupt Misra, a former Aditya Birla Group executive, emerges as the BJD’s choice for the Cuttack seat, following the recent resignation of sitting MP Bhartruhari Mahtab from the party. Similarly, Jajpur MP Sarmistha Sethi earns re-nomination for the upcoming elections.

Here’s the second list of BJD candidates for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Odisha is as follows:

– Puri: Arup Patnaik
– Dhenkanal: Avinash Samal
– Jagatsinghpur: Rajashree Mallick
– Kandhamal: Achyuta Samanta
– Cuttack: Santrupt Misra
– Jajpur: Sarmistha Sethi