The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha on Friday (April 5) released its third list of candidates for the assembly. In this, sitting MLA cum Labor Minister Sharda Prasad Nayak has been made the candidate from Rourkela Assembly seat.
At the same time, Rohit Joseph Tirkey, son of former MLA George Tirkey, has got the ticket from Birmitrapur assembly seat. Rohit had joined BJD on Wednesday. After which it was considered certain that he would get the ticket from Birmitrapur assembly seat. Its official announcement has been made on Friday.
Sharda Prasad Nayak
Sharda Prasad Nayak has been MLA thrice and minister twice from Rourkela assembly seat. He is also the Labor Minister in the current government. In the year 2004, he became MLA for the first time on BJD ticket. After which, after winning again in 2009, he was made the Supply Minister in the state government.
At the same time, in the 2014 elections, his opponent was former Union Minister Dilip Rai. Due to contesting elections from Rourkela after a long gap, Dilip Rai was supported by the city residents and Sharda Nayak’s dream of becoming MLA for the third consecutive time was shattered.
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However, in the year 2019, Sharda Nayak made a comeback and reached the Assembly by defeating her nearest rival Nihar Rai of BJP. Later he was also made a minister.
Rohit Joseph Tirkey
Rohit Joseph Tirkey, son of prominent tribal leader and former Birmitrapur MLA George Tirkey, had contested the 2019 elections from Birmitrapur assembly seat on a Congress ticket. He got 44,412 votes.
BJP’s Shankar Oram (60,937 votes) had won this seat, while BJD’s Makhlu Ekka (44,586 votes) came second. Despite contesting elections for the first time, he gave a tough competition to everyone.
Also Read: Odisha: Son of senior Congress leader and MLA Suresh Routray joins ruling BJD.
This time he has been given the ticket after joining BJD. Rohit’s father and former MLA George Tirkey will also work openly in support of his son.
He got ticket in the third list of BJD
| serial number | name of assembly constituency | Candidate |
| 1. | Rengali | Sudarshan Haripal |
| 2. | Rourkela | Sharda Prasad Nayak |
| 3. | Birmitrapur | Rohit Joseph Tirkey |
| 4. | Keonjhar | Meena Majhi |
| 5. | Rairangpur | Rezin Murmu |
| 6. | Balasore | Swaroop Das |
| 7. | barbati-cuttack | Prakash Behera |
| 8. | Salepur | Prashant Behera |
| 9. | Jaidev | Navkishore Malik |