Narendra Swain named BJD candidate for RS seat

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Ending the speculation over nomination of the party candidate for the lone Rajya Sabha bypoll from Odisha, Chief Minister -- and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president -- Naveen Patnaik on Friday named Narendra Swain as the party's candidate for the by-election scheduled to be held on December 14.

"I would like to announce the name of Narendra Kumar Swain, general secretary of BJD, as the party's candidate for Rajya Sabha bypoll," Patnaik told reporters here.

Several party leaders were in the race for the lone seat to the upper house of parliament.

"I am grateful to the party chief for his decision and will always work for the party," Swain said, adding that he is a dedicated party worker.

"I will perform my duty honestly after getting elected to the Rajya Sabha," said the leader.

As per the notification issued by the Odisha Legislative Assembly, the process of filing of nomination papers, which began on November 26, will continue till December 3.

Verification of papers is on December 4 and the last date of withdrawal of nominations is December 7, the notification added.

The ruling party, with its brute majority in the assembly, is all set to win the seat which fell vacant after the death of BJD's Kalpataru Das.

BJD has 117 members in the 147-seat Odisha assembly.