BJP’s Ex-MP Kharabela Swain to Contest as Independent in Balasore

Balasore: Reacting to the denial of a party ticket, former BJP MP Kharabela Swain on Monday declared that he will contest from Balasore in the upcoming Lok Sabha 2024 elections as an Independent candidate.

Swain announced this as the BJP has renominated sitting MP Pratap Sarangi from the Balasore Lok Sabha seat.

Kharabela Swain, who left civil services to join politics, has contested Lok Sabha elections eight times in the past. “I have decided to fight as an independent candidate and show my worth,” he told the media.

He however expressed his desire to win as an Independent candidate and later on join the BJP. Swain is the founder of the Utkal Bharat party formed in 2010.