2024 General Elections: Odisha Capital Likely To See A Classy Bureaucratic Clash!

Bhubaneswar: The 2024 general election in Bhubaneswar is likely to see a fight amongst former bureaucrats as three major parties are going to field their Babus and Madams for tough competition.

In 2019, state ruling BJD fielded ex-IPS Arup Mohan Patnaik for Odisha’s capital while former IAS Aparajita Sarangi emerged victorious.

Meanwhile, former Odisha Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik’s Congress joining slightly indicates Congress’ game plan for 2024 polls and the Odisha PCC president’s reaction to it clears that the grand old party has a significant player. And he is ‘ Bijay patnaik’.

If the three major parties in Odisha followed the same procedure then it would be a classy bureaucratic clash.

According to sources, Patnaik on Monday met the party’s president Sarat Patnaik and senior leader Suresh Kumar Routray.

Though both OPCC president and Bijay Patnaik did not clear the air for their next step for the Bhubaneswar constituency, garrulous Suresh Routray said media persons that he would be very happy if Bijay stands from Bhubaneswar Parliamentary Constituency.

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“I will be happy if my young brother Bijay, who is a top-level intellectual, would stand from Bhubaneswar. He must be and he is. He will bring development for entre Bhubaneswar,” Routray said.

Speaking to media persons in this regard, Sarat indirectly made his aim by saying “Only two people can’t fight in Bhubaneswar”.

“Yes… we have a strong determination for the Bhubaneswar constituency. We will also field a flag bearer for Odisha’s capital. It is the centre place of state politics then how we would remain silent. Only two people can not fight here. This time we have also a tough plan,” said Sarat.

“Now we are trying to reach every house and we are hoping for the best in near future. In regard to the candidate selection, we are totally dependent upon the high command. But yes… we have a strong perception for Bhubaneswar seat,” added Sarat.

Notably, Bijay, the former bureaucrat from Odisha was impressed by the Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi. Due to it, he was in touch with the national leaders of Congress.

It is likely that Bijay Patnaik will be given a senior position in the Odisha unit of Congress.
In 2022, there were rumours about his plans to join Congress. But he had refuted it saying he had no interest in politics.

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Bijay Patnaik is a 1976 batch Odisha cadre IAS officer. He retired from the post of Chief Secretary of Odisha in 2013. After retirement, he was appointed as the chairman of the Odisha Staff Selection Commission and as a member of the Odisha Human Rights Commission. It was speculated that he may join BJD and get a Rajya Sabha berth. But it did not happen.