Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader MA Kharbel Swai on Monday announced that he will contest as an independent candidate from Balasore Lok Sabha seat in Odisha. A day ago, BJP once again nominated sitting MP and former Union Minister Pratap Shadangi as its candidate from this seat, after which Swai made this announcement.
Kharbel Swai said in the press conference that I will contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Balasore seat as an independent candidate. I will campaign in the name of Prime Minister Modi. The public will decide who is the real BJP. He said that he will not leave BJP, although the party may take action against him. Swai said that he will join BJP after winning the elections. The former MP alleged that a ‘group of conspirators’ in the BJP were responsible for not giving him the ticket. Swai has been MP from Balasore from 1998 to 2009. He had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Kandhamal, but was defeated by Achyutanand Samant of Biju Janata Dal.
BJP canceled tickets of four sitting MPs
Meanwhile, BJP MP from Kalahandi Basant Kumar Panda, who did not get the ticket, said that he is a party worker and will continue to be so. He said that I welcome the party’s decision. Change is natural and we should respect it. I have performed the duties assigned to me by the party. Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari and Mayurbhanj MP Visheshwar Tudu, who did not get tickets, declined to comment. Tudu is a Union Minister. BJP on Sunday announced candidates for 18 out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. The party has canceled the tickets of four sitting MPs.