Jagatsinghpur: Expelled BJD leader Damodar Rout said he would ensure the defeat of four BJD candidates from his native Jagatsinghpur district.
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah during their visits September 22 and party September 24 respectively targeted BJD, Rout also made his stand clear against his former party.
Rout said he would tour across the state with a view to ensure the defeat of BJD candidates.
“I will leave make sure that none of the four BJD candidates would win this election,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources said the Pradesh Congress Committee President Niranjan Patnaik would be the candidate from Balikuda-Ersama constituency.
Rout warned that he would not let Ersama MLA Prashant Mudului and district BJD President Bishnu Charan Das win at any cost.
He said in a bid to defeat BJD candidates, he might support Congress or independent candidates.
While Rout’s statement has enthused Congress in Jagatsinghpur, the mention of independent candidate has created confusion as well.
Observers said Rout might seek the cooperation of Congress to ensure victory of the independent candidate selected by him.
If that be the case, Rout might ask for another seat from Congress. In turn, Rout could offer his support to Congress in other constituencies.
Earlier there was speculation that Rout, who has a good relationship with PCC Working President Chiranjib Biswal, would contest election with the support of Congress.
However, there were reports that PCC President Niranjan Patnaik could be the party’s candidate from Balikuda-Ersama.
If Patnaik contests from Balikuda-Ersama, it could be a good challenge for Muduli. Besides, Patnaik’s in-laws’ village is also in Balikuda-Ersama.
According to reports, Rout might contest the election from Paradip with support from Congress.
On the other hand, Tirtol MLA Rajashree Mallick, who had a good relationship with Rout, recently spoke against the latter. Rout, without naming anyone, said he would make it a point to defeat BJD candidates from all four seats.
PNN