The ruling BJD today decided to release its first list of candidates for the ensuing Lok Sabha and Assembly elections by March 13.
"Our first list comprising names of candidates for ten Lok Sabha constituencies and 70 Assembly segments will be released by May 13," BJD vice-president Kalpataru Das told reporters after a meeting held at Naveen Niwas here today.
Das said the party would announce the names of all candidates for 21 parliamentary constituencies and 147 Assembly segments by March 16.
Since consultation with respective district presidents and poll observers is still on, it will take two more days to give the list a final shape, he said adding BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik will declare the names of the candidates.
However, with delay in announcement of the candidate list, the ruling party leaders from every nook and corner of the state have started pouring in Naveen Niwas, the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, to lobby for their respective candidates.
Sources said, the party would first release the names of the candidates in constituencies which are not hit by dissidence.
"This apart, Naveen is also keeping a close eye on the candidates of rival parties in certain politically sensitive seats," a senior BJD leader said.
Meanwhile the BJP has announced its second list of candidates, including five Lok Sabha and 57 Assembly seats, while the Congress released its first list of nine candidates for Lok Sabha seats.
The filing of nomination papers for the first phase of polls to ten Lok Sabha and 70 Assembly constituencies in the state is scheduled to begin from March 15 and for the second phase of elections to 11 Lok Sabha and 77 Assembly seats, filing of nomination would start on March 19.
