Naveen files nomination for Hinjili assembly seat

A three-time legislator from Hinjili, Patnaik also exhibited optimism about BJD retaining power in the state by winning majority of seats in the assembly election

Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik, on Wednesday, filed his nomination papers seeking re-election from Hinjili assembly constituency in Ganjam district for the fourth consecutive time. Voting for this seat will be held on April 10 in the first phase polls in the state.

Patnaik filed four sets of documents before the assistant sub-collector and designated returning officer (RO) at Chhatrapur, the district headquarters town at about 11.20 am.

“I expect BJD to do very well in the ensuing elections,” the chief minister told the reporters after filing his nominations.

Clad in his trademark white kurta and pyjama, 67-year-old chief minister came to the office of the returning officer accompanied by several legislators of his party in Ganjam district and two ministers- Surya Narayan Patro and Usha Devi.

He stepped down from his vehicle about 100 meters from the RO office adhering the election code of conduct and walked the distance amid tight security.

Before filing nomination, the BJD chief visited the Tara Tarini temple-one of the famous shakti shrines to invoke the blessings of twin Goddess-the presiding deity of Ganjam district. The supporters of Patnaik, who gathered at Chhatrapur since morning to participate in the CM’s procession were in upbeat mood.

“We are only concerned about his victory margin”, said Babula Choudhury, the chairperson of the Sheragada panchayat samiti and one of the proposers in Patnaik’s nomination papers. He hoped, Patnaik would win from Hinjili with the highest margin this time. While Patnaik had won the seat with a margin of 26,417 votes over his Congress rival in 2000, the winning margin had increased to 42,642 in 2004 and 61,273 votes in 2009.

The Congress is yet to declare the name of its candidate to challenge Naveen.

The other political heavyweights, who filed nomination seeking election from their respective constituencies, included BJD MP, Sidhant Mohapatra (Berhampur Lok Sabha seat), Congress MP, Pradip Majhi (Nabrangpur Lok Sabha constituency), BJP leader, Dillip Ray (Rourkela assembly seat), and former Pradesh Congress chief Sarat Patnaik (Bolangir assembly seat).