BJP releases eigth list of candidates for LS polls

The BJP on Monday released its eighth list for the ensuing General elections. The names announced are of two candidates for Odisha, including former MP and founder of Utkal Bharat party Kharbela Swain and former Odisha DGP and DG CRPF Prakash Mishra.

Earlier in the day, Swain joined the BJP in the presence of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at state party headquarters in Bhubaneswar. He will be contesting from Kandhamal parliamentary constituency.

Mishra, who had joined the BJP on Sunday, will contest from Cuttack parliamentary constituency.

This was the eighth list of the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls.

Odisha will witness elections in 21 parliamentary constituencies.

BJP also declared names of nine candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. The strength of the Odisha Assembly is 147.

The third list of legislative Assembly polls for Odisha includes Dinesh Jain (Jharsuguda), Debendra Mohapatra (Rairakhol), Badrinaryan Dhal (Bhandaripokhari), Pradeip Naik (Bhadrak), Debanaryan Pradhan (Phulbani), Sampad Swain (Paradeep), Narendra Nayak (Jayadev), Biswaranjan Badajena (Jatani) and Rishab Nanda (Begunia).

Odisha will be going to polls in the first four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29.

The state will be voting simultaneously for parliamentary and Assembly constituencies. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.