BJD fields Minakshi Mahanta from Champua assembly seat

The ruling BJD in Odisha on Thursday announced Minakshi Mahanta as its candidate from Champua assembly seat.

In 2014, the BJD had fielded Odia actor Tatwa Prakash Satpathy alias Papu Pom Pom from the constituency.

However, the seat was won by Independent candidate Sanatan Mahakud by a margin of around 14,000 votes.

With this, the BJD has so far announced candidates for all the 21 Lok Sabha seats and 145 of the 147 assembly constituencies in the state.

The party is yet to announce its candidates for Kendrapara and Baripada assembly seats.

Meanwhile, the Congress has finalised the names of poll candidates for three assembly seats.

Though the party's Central Election Committee has not yet come up with a notification to this effect, the OPCC confirmed that names of Ajit Mangaraj and Swagatika Patnaik have been finalised for Pipili and Khurda seats respectively.

Mangaraj will replace Yudhistir Samantray, who was initially allotted the party ticket for Pipili seat.

Samantray on Wednesday had declined to contest the elections this time, expressing disappointment over the manner in which his candidature was announced.

The OPCC has also confirmed Basant Kumar Maharana's candidature from Khandapada assembly seat.

Till Wednesday, the Congress had announced candidates for 18 Lok Sabha and 131 assembly seats in the state.

The eastern state will vote simultaneously for the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in four phases from April 11 to April 29.